Toothache, or Torment and Torture- A Caricature by ROWLANDSON, CIRCA 1823

Toothache. or Torment and Torture- A Caricature by ROWLANDSON.

Joseph Grego, who collected and annotated Rowlandson's works, says of this sketch: "Much of the tooth extraction was conducted by itinerant quacks or jack-of-all-trades who did it as a side line to their business. Although the rustic practitioner does not display his diploma from the college of surgeons, he has made up a certificate with which, it is improbable, he is equally satisfied:

" Barnaby Factotum: Draws Teeth, Bleeds and Shaves; Wigs made here, also sausages. Wash balls , Black Pudding, Scotch Pills, Powders for the Itch, Red Herrings, Breeches Balls and Small Beer by the maker. In utrumque Paratus."

Great progress has been made since that long ago and far away time. Today's dentist is a scientifically trained, skillful operator, using modern methods and beautiful, efficient equipment.

CARVED DENTURES circa 1500 A.D.

These dentures were carved in primitive fashion out of the femur of an ox. The upper and lower dentures were bound together with wires. Two thin little metal springs on the occlusial surface are designed to enable the wearer to open his mouth. The dentures did not rest on the alveolar arch but were inserted between jaw and cheek, so that they were useless for chewing and their value was solely cosmetic.

Since they were only made for cosmetic purposes to cover the toothless gingivae of the wearer- this signify more than words the mental anguish and embarrassment suffered by the multitude of edentulous persons of that era. There were no prostheses and no scientific knowledge of the treatment of gingival disease that robbed great masses of the population of their natural dentition.

Le Gran Thomas treating a patient on the new Brigde of Paris. Portrait painted in the 18th Century

All the world is a stage and we are all actors in life's drama upon it. Some are endowed with a better sense of showmanship than others. Le Gran profited well by combining this gift of showmanship with his professional skill.

Showmanship, public relations, or chairside manner, whatever you wish to call it, is always a great asset to the Doctor and in turn provides more confidence to the patient. Showmanship must be combined with professional skill, however, or it is of no value and becomes misleading behavior which when discovered can destroy the showman's professional reputation.