Exhibit showcases evolution of dentistry

VIDEO: See more of the dental museum by clicking on the image above

The UNMC College of Dentistry Museum, featuring a collection of dental artifacts that chart the history and evolution of the profession, will be open to the public for free, with tours offered today through Saturday.

“This display represents one of the largest collections of historic dental items dating from the 1850s to the present in the United States,” said Stan Harn, Ph.D., professor of oral biology and curator of the museum.

The collection, which Dr. Harn has been building since 1977, is so large that it is only put on public display one week each year at the College of Dentistry’s annual open house.

“We have more than 40 dental cabinets on display from the 1860s through the 1950s, including several new ones from the 1870s,” he added. “And of course there will be thousands of dental items on display.”

The museum also features six period dentist offices from the 1850s to the 1930s, several dental chairs dating from 1840 to 1880, a collection of tooth extraction instruments dating from the 1500s, X-ray machines and other instruments.

The collection will be displayed in Room 1431 and adjacent hallways, on the lower level of the UNMC College of Dentistry at 40th and Holdrege streets in Lincoln. Free parking is available on the east side of the building in the patient parking lot.

A schedule of tours of the dental museum follows:

• Today: 8 a.m.-9 p.m. (evening hours)
• Wednesday: 8 a.m.-9 p.m. (evening hours)
• Thursday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Friday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Saturday: 8 a.m.-noon.