THE NATIONAL MUSEUM
OF DENTISTRY—A SOURCE OF PRIDE AND EDUCATION
Baltimore, Maryland is home to the Dr. Samuel
D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry, an asset about which many in
the profession are unaware. A bit of history—the Baltimore College of Dental
Surgery, the world’s first college of dentistry, was founded in 1840. At that
time, a museum-quality collection of dental paraphernalia was begun, and was added
to over the years. That ever-increasing collection, begun so many years ago, is
now housed in the National Museum of Dentistry (NMD) which is the renovated
building that belonged to that first dental college. Located on the northeast
corner of Lombard and Greene Streets in Baltimore, the Museum is in the midst
of the oldest, continuous-use dental buildings in our country.
Included among the 40,000 dental artifacts owned by the NMD
are ancient dental instruments, anatomical specimens, furniture and equipment,
artwork, and several prized items: George Washington’s dentures (lower plate on
display at this time), a life-like wax figure of Dr. G. V. Black, and a
life-size model of a Narwhal (Monodon monocerous), a whale-like creature that
sports one straight tusk, appearing tooth-like, which can grow to nine feet in
length.
The NMD is the repository of the heritage of dentistry,
serving two purposes: dental professionals find its artifacts fascinating, and
thousands of annual layperson visitors, including many students who are enticed
to consider a career in dentistry, are educated about aspects of oral care and
the important link between oral health and a healthy life. Plan a visit to the
NMD soon. In the meantime, find out more about the Museum’s history, exhibits,
and future at dentalmuseum.org.
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