Story: Dental care

Dental surgery, around 1910

Dental surgery, around 1910

From the late 19th century dentists in New Zealand cities began to set up dental practices with the latest technology. This included adjustable dental chairs, equipment to administer nitrous oxide or 'laughing gas' for pain relief, and dental drills operated by a foot pedal. In this dentist's surgery in Taranaki just before the First World War, nitrous oxide is being delivered by one dentist, while another prepares to do some dental surgery, probably one or more extractions. Skilled dentists at that time could remove an entire set of teeth in just three minutes – which was necessary, as administering the gas for longer than this made patients ill and could kill them. Two female dental assistants are also in attendance, and dental equipment is laid out, much as it might be for medical surgery. In the foreground is one of the adjustable chairs that made it much easier for dentists to work with patients.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, James McAllister Collection (PAColl-3054)
Reference: 1/1-010329-G
Photograph by James McAllister

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Andrew Schmidt and Susan Moffat, 'Dental care - Early dental care', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/30581/dental-surgery-around-1910 (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Andrew Schmidt and Susan Moffat, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 6 Nov 2018