The World's Weirdest Dentures

Dentures have become so ubiquitous in the 21st century that we take their present form for granted. Like many other inventions, dentures underwent a number of innovations before we got to where we are today. Along the way, a number of extraordinary dentures graced the mouths of those looking to solve health issues or find cosmetic improvements for their smiles. Let’s review some of the weirdest dentures developed throughout the history of dentistry.

Ancient Bling Bling

Long before rap became a popular music genre, many cultures had already adopted the practice of wearing gold grills on their teeth.

Among the ancient proponents of decorative dentures was a woman unearthed in an ancient Celt burial site in La Chêne, France who wore an iron pin implant in her mouth. The pin likely holds a decorative tooth in place, especially given it was part of the front teeth that needed replacing. Experts suggest that the missing tooth was made of gold: the Etruscans (of what is now modern Tuscany) were in the habit of sporting decorative gold teeth, and Celts traded extensively with them.

The practice of using gold teeth continues to this day in many cultures. In many areas in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Caucasus Regions, gold teeth remain a status symbol for wealth and power. In some cases, people get their healthy teeth filed or extracted to get a replacement made of gold. Of course, many hip-hop artists sport grills made of gold to show the world they’ve made it. In fact, rapper Nelly released a single “Grillz” which extolled the virtues of wearing gold caps on your teeth.

The Truth About George Washington’s Teeth

Washington’s legendary exploits and leadership as the first president of the United States showed his strength and fortitude, but—like many of his time—dental issues plagued him throughout his life. His extensive diary included many entries of aching teeth and gums and the many procedures done to save his smile.

One of the more famous stories about Washington is that he relied on wooden dentures. However, many historians now believe this is likely false. While he did not use wooden dentures, the ones he did use would certainly be considered weird by our modern standards. The president used a wide range of materials, ranging from actual human teeth to cow and horse teeth. There were also reports of him using elephant ivory, lead-tin, copper or brass, and silver alloy.

Wood You Wear Wooden Dentures?

Even if George Washington didn’t wear wooden dentures, that doesn’t mean they didn't exist. In fact, some of the oldest dentures were made of wood, but they’re more common in the eastern part of the world.

Japan gets credit for inventing wooden full dentures, carved meticulously by Japanese craftsmen. Softened beeswax was placed inside a patient’s mouth to make an impression. This would serve as the basis for the wooden carvings that conformed to the patient’s mouth. While the earliest versions were made entirely out of wood, later models incorporated human teeth, soapstone (or pagodite), ivory, and animal horn. They were remarkably form-fitting, utilizing broad bases and adhesion principles to keep them in place.

Wooden dentures gained popularity in the 16th century. It was said to be a popular enough industry that many woodcarvers switched jobs from sculptor to denture maker.

Pearly-White Ivory Dentures

What better way to mimic the look of your original teeth than using ivory for your falsies? This was the thinking behind ivory dentures, which were the standard in American dental care starting in the 1700s. As noted above, George Washington himself was a fan of the ivory denture.

Generally harvested from elephants, hippos, or walruses, this tusk material was then carved into two separate pieces: an upper and a lower denture with ivory “teeth” for maximum authenticity. While different materials were commonly used to affix the pieces together, one ingenious craftsman opted for piano wire springs! Partial dentures would often be tied to remaining teeth using silk threads or wire.

In fact, ivory remained the denture material of choice—even if it was only used for the base rather than the “teeth” themselves—well into mid 1800s. The downside? Ivory proved difficult to clean and it would deteriorate over time, sometimes producing an off-putting odor to boot. Hard to believe it was only the wealthiest members of society who could afford the privilege of sporting smelly, dirty dentures!

Second-Hand Teeth Were All The Rage

Given the lack of alternatives at the time, it was common to use teeth extracted from animals such as cows or horses—and even humans! Animal tooth dentures already existed around 2500 B.C., and ancient Egyptians and Etruscans made modifications by introducing dentures made from bone, wire, and carved animal and human teeth. Centuries later, human tooth dentures became sought after during the 17th century. A burgeoning but macabre market for second-hand teeth became its own industry in 18th century France. In fact, historians say that patients wanted replacement teeth primarily for cosmetic purposes. Wealthy French aristocrats, in particular, made up the bulk of the market for used teeth. Fashionable? Maybe. Among the weirdest dentures in history? Definitely.

By and large, human teeth looked better and were more comfortable than false teeth carved from bone, ivory, or animal teeth. This is why dentures at the time consisted of second-hand teeth mixed with other falsies. Soon, the market for dead men’s teeth grew to the point that people scrounged fresh battlefields for teeth from dead soldiers. “Waterloo teeth” came from the historic French defeat, where a record number of canines, cuspids, and molars were harvested. Despite the moniker, human teeth were already en vogue even before Napoleon lost this particular battle.

Porcelain Dentures for a Whiter, Brighter Smile

A combination of ivory and human teeth remained the denture material of choice until porcelain was introduced in the late 1700s. However, the first foray into porcelain dentures—spearheaded by an enterprising man named Alexis Duchateau—was not a resounding success. Not only did the dentures chip quite easily, but the whiteness of the material was actually off putting for many would-be wearers. Yes, back in those days a bright, white smile was considered unnatural.

It wasn’t until the 1840s that porcelain became more widely accepted in denture development. It was a second-generation goldsmith by the name Claudius Ash who managed to solve the earlier issues with porcelain dentures. His unique approach was to carve porcelain “tube teeth” which he then set into a base made from gold. He also used gold for the denture springs and swivels.

This new development in denture technology was a game-changer. Claudius rapidly expanded his business and soon dominated the European market for false teeth. Eventually Cladius Ash & Sons became internationally renowned for their dental innovations and the business evolved, via merger, into the Amalgamated Dental Company in 1924.

DIY Dentures by The Deer Hunter

Necessity is often the mother of invention. For this gentleman, making a DIY set of dentures from deer’s teeth is a more practical alternative than frequent trips to the city to get replacement chompers. Francis Wharton—a Canadian hunter and inventor who lived in the backwoods of Little Fort, British Columbia in the mid 20th century—was far from civilization when he found himself needing a pair of dentures. Between the 1950s and 1960s, he fashioned himself a full upper denture made from deer he shot himself. The unusual piece—made from filed down ruminant deer teeth and placed in a plastic wood base—is now on display at the Museum of Health Care in Kingston.

When he was wearing his deer dentures, Wharton used household cement to make them stay in place. Reportedly, he used the teeth for at least three years before abandoning them in favor of more conventional prosthetics. The deer dentures were described as loose, dark, and dirty. Oh, deer!

DIY Dentures Using Superglue

Another entry in our catalog of weirdest dentures and bad DIY choices: a British woman used superglue to reattach her failing teeth. Angie Barlow—a professional dog walker—couldn’t muster the courage to go to a dental clinic. She said that one time her mother went to the dentist, she was diagnosed with throat cancer after tooth extraction. Subsequently, she died at 34 years of age. Since then, Barlow couldn't bear going to a dentist.

Instead, she would use superglue to reattach teeth that had fallen out. Eventually, the problem became so severe that Barlow lost 90% of the bone structure needed to support her upper teeth. The sheer amount of superglue needed to hold her teeth in place formed the equivalent of a full denture. She finally relented and visited a professional at age 48. Dentists immediately removed most of her superglued teeth. Instead, they inserted titanium pin-based dental implants and gave her a more permanent and less damaging smile.

Are Stem Cells the Future of Dental Implants?

What if you could simply regrow a broken or missing tooth instead of using an implant? A team of researchers at Tufts School of Dental Medicine are exploring this alternative.

A professor of orthodontics and director of the division of craniofacial and molecular genetics, Pam Yelick, is researching ways to use dental stem cells to successfully regrow broken or missing teeth. First, the stem cells must be extracted from a healthy adult tooth. Once that’s done, the cells are isolated and kept in conditions that mirror the embryonic stage of development, when the jaw bone, tooth, soft palate and gums have yet to take shape. This encourages the growth of new tooth buds, which can later be transferred back to the patient who will grow a new tooth from scratch instead of needing an implant.

While this is an exciting innovation in dental technology, it will be many years before this becomes a viable alternative. At present Yelick and her team are still experimenting with the best ways to create the tooth buds and the only patients who have yet to grow new teeth from her stem cell research are pigs.

Yay for You! No Need To Wear Weird Dentures

While most of our entries were not considered weird during their time, given the material used or its original purpose, they now come across as some of the weirdest dentures throughout history. Thank goodness for modern dentistry! Today having your teeth replaced with safe, comfortable, and attractive prosthetics can be easily done by a professional dental practitioner. The latest and greatest development in this field? Digital dentures! These next-generation dentures utilize 3D printing and milling technologies to produce better, more form-fitting results.

When selecting the best dentist for the job, make sure that they have quality dental products at their disposal. No matter how skilled the dentist is, having the latest and greatest in denture technology will yield a safe and sound investment that can last for years.

Sterngold Dental believes in providing a better quality of life by way of superior dental products. This includes affordable restorative dental products that can help patients achieve better dental health, regain their confidence, and renew their zest for life. So when you are on the lookout for new dental prosthetics, there’s no need to go “weird” or wild. Make sure your dental practitioner carries Sterngold dental products! Visit our website to learn more about our products and services.