Ever wonder what tools were used to pull teeth back in 1900?
You can see them at the UNMC College of Dentistry’s open house for its Dental Museum, which runs through Sept. 8.
The annual display of historic artifacts boasts the largest collection of historical dental equipment in the region dating from the 1850s and featuring dental artifacts that chart the history and evolution of the profession.
“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 emeritus 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 each year at the College of Dentistry’s annual open house.
“We have more than 55 dental cabinets on display from the 1860s through the 1950s, including several new ones from the 1870s,” he said. “And, of course, there will be thousands of dental items on display.”
The museum features six dentist offices depicting periods from the 1850s to the 1930s as well as 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 at 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.
The dental museum is open at the following times:
- Today through Friday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 1: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 2: 1-5 p.m.
- Monday, Sept. 3: Tours by appointment only
- Tuesday, Sept. 4: 8 a.m.-9 p.m. (evening hours)
- Wednesday, Sept. 5: 8 a.m.-9 p.m. (evening hours)
- Thursday, Sept. 6: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Friday, Sept. 7: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 8: 8 a.m.-noon