Dental Museum Linz

Dentistry is one of the oldest and most fascinating branches of medicine, with a rich and diverse history that spans thousands of years and cultures. From ancient civilizations to modern innovations, dentistry has evolved and improved to meet the needs and expectations of people who care about their oral health and appearance. But how much do we know about the origins and development of dentistry and dental technology? How did people in the past deal with toothaches, cavities, and missing teeth? What kind of tools and techniques did they use to treat and prevent dental problems? And how did dentistry become a scientific and professional field that we recognize today?

If you are curious about these questions and more, you might want to visit the Linz Museum for the History of Dentistry, a unique and fascinating place that showcases artefacts related to dentistry and dental technology from different periods and regions. The museum is housed in a showroom of Linz’s ancient town hall in Upper Austria, a historic building that dates back to the 13th century and has witnessed many important events in the city’s history. The museum is the result of the efforts and passion of a group of volunteers who share a common interest in the history of dentistry and dental technology. The group was formed in 1998, when the Upper Austrian interest organization for the history of dentistry was established. The group organized its first exhibition, Dentistry Through the Ages, in 1999, and opened the museum to the public in 2000. The museum was initially located at the AKh Linz, a general hospital, until 2002, when it moved to the Nordico, a municipal museum in Linz. In the same year, the group founded an association and began refurbishing the showroom of the old town hall, where the museum finally settled in 2003. The association’s members include volunteers from diverse sectors of dentistry, dental commerce, dental industry, and dental technology, who contribute to the preservation and exhibition of the museum’s collection.

The museum’s collection consists of more than 2,000 items, ranging from ancient dental instruments and devices to modern dental appliances and equipment. The museum aims to provide visitors with an overview of the evolution of dentistry from roughly 1700 to the present day, as well as to highlight the cultural and social aspects of dental care and aesthetics. The museum is divided into several sections, each focusing on a different theme or period of dentistry history. Some of the most interesting and impressive exhibits include:

• A tooth key and a Bader chair, the earliest exhibits in the museum. The tooth key was a metal instrument that was used to extract teeth by twisting and pulling them out. The Bader chair was a wooden chair that was used by barbers, who were the “doctors to the little people” in the Middle Ages. Barbers performed various medical services, including dentistry, for the lower classes of society. They were also known as tooth crushers, after the only known method of extracting a painful tooth.
• Early pedal drills, pump chairs, X-ray machines, and other items that depict the atmosphere in dental clinics of the past. These items show how dentistry became more advanced and sophisticated over time, as well as how dental practitioners adapted to the changing needs and demands of their patients. The pedal drill, for example, was a device that used a foot pedal to power a rotating drill bit that could bore holes in teeth. The pump chair was a chair that could be raised or lowered by pumping a lever, allowing the dentist to adjust the position of the patient. The X-ray machine was a device that used electromagnetic radiation to produce images of the teeth and bones, enabling the dentist to diagnose and treat various dental conditions.
• Instruments, specimens of dentures, dental crowns, and prosthesis that are no longer imagined today. These exhibits demonstrate the creativity and ingenuity of dental technicians and craftsmen, who used various materials and methods to create artificial teeth and restore the function and appearance of natural teeth. Some of the materials used for dentures include ivory, bone, wood, metal, porcelain, rubber, and acrylic. Some of the methods used for prosthesis include soldering, casting, molding, and carving. Some of the most remarkable examples of dentures and prosthesis in the museum include a set of dentures made from hippopotamus teeth, a gold crown with a ruby embedded in it, and a prosthesis that replaced the lower jaw of a patient who lost it due to cancer.
• Orthodontic gadgets from the past and present. These exhibits illustrate the development and diversity of orthodontics, the branch of dentistry that deals with the correction and prevention of irregularities of the teeth and jaws. Orthodontics has a long and complex history, dating back to ancient times, when people used various devices and techniques to straighten their teeth and improve their bite. Some of the devices and techniques used for orthodontics include finger pressure, metal bands, wires, springs, screws, plates, braces, retainers, and aligners. Some of the most curious and intriguing examples of orthodontic gadgets in the museum include a set of braces made from animal intestines, a device that used magnets to move the teeth, and a device that used electricity to stimulate the growth of the jaws.
• An icon of Saint Apollonia, the patron saint of dentists. This exhibit is a religious and artistic representation of the martyrdom and legacy of Saint Apollonia, a Christian woman who lived in Alexandria, Egypt, in the 3rd century AD. According to legend, Saint Apollonia was tortured by a pagan mob during a persecution of Christians. They broke her teeth with pincers and threatened to burn her alive unless she renounced her faith. She refused and jumped into the fire, sacrificing herself for her beliefs. She became a symbol of courage and faith, as well as a protector of those who suffer from dental problems. She is often depicted holding a pair of pincers with a tooth in them, or a palm branch, a sign of martyrdom.

The Linz Museum for the History of Dentistry is a remarkable and educational place that offers a unique and comprehensive insight into the history and culture of dentistry and dental technology. The museum is open to the public on Wednesdays and Saturdays, from 10:00 to 12:00, and by appointment. The museum also organizes guided tours, lectures, workshops, and special events for schools, groups, and individuals. The museum is a must-see for anyone who is interested in dentistry, history, or simply curious about the world of teeth.