A Dentist's Shop is Fitted Up

Artificial varieties have been used to replace teeth for thousands of years with modern versions being introduced in the late 18^th century.  The introduction of porcelain teeth in the 1780s by French dentist Dubois de Chemant replaced bone and ivory in many applications.  Porcelain teeth were later brought to America by French dentist A. A. Planteau where they were quickly adopted and manufactured throughout the 19^th century.  By the time the Shakers began documenting their use of artificial teeth two new materials had been introduced on the market, vulcanized rubber and plaster of paris.  It is probable that the Shakers began experimenting with these materials as early as the 1850s.  

Vulcanized rubber was first developed by Charles Goodyear in 1839 and was used as the base for porcelain.  Over the next 20 years false teeth became one of Goodyear's more successful innovations.  His “Vulcanite” teeth were considered a breakthrough in the dental practice because they were relatively inexpensive, less abrasive to the oral tissues on which they were in contact, and provided a strong base to hold teeth.   False teeth sales skyrocketed as the vulcanization process had made them more affordable to the general public.   

In 1859, the elders at Canterbury Shaker Village established their first dentist’s office to care for its members.  Already, Elder Henry Blinn had learned enough about the benefits of vulcanizing rubber to consider it his preferred method for making false teeth.  In the early 1860s, he traveled between the New England and New York Shaker communities taking impressions of patients’ teeth and sending them to Boston for vulcanization.  Blinn was also responsible for training brethren from other Shaker villages to make false teeth.  On April 9, 1863, Canterbury Shaker Village purchased its own vulcanizer and created a small false teeth industry.  It is likely that Shakers made this business accessible to people living in the vicinity of the Village yet no records have been found pertaining to the business.   

Many dentists, today, still believe that the vulcanized rubber was the superior choice for use with artificial teeth.  Although it did not hold color well, it fit better than more contemporary kinds.  Vulcanized rubber teeth were eventually replaced in the mid-20^th century with acrylic bases which could be colored to resemble gum tissue. 

Caption:

1. Artificial Teeth found onsite, Canterbury Shaker Village archaeology collection.