A Founding Father's False Teeth

As children in American schools learn about their country's history and the figures who helped create the America they know and enjoy today, some of the details they may be learning have the potential to be myths or legends. In the instance of the first president of the United States, George Washington, a popular myth is that he wore wooden teeth. While the president did not wear wooden teeth, the real story behind the president's false teeth may seem more strange than the original myth.



America's first president did not have an easy time with dental hygiene. Though part of this was his own fault, many of the problems could be traced back to the lack of knowledge of dental hygiene and dentistry at the time. Different mouth rinses and tooth powders that were advertised to be beneficial to one's teeth were later found to frequently contain ingredients that actually had the ability to strip the enamel from teeth and poison the gums. Washington began losing his teeth around age 22 and by the time he took the office of President of the United States in 1789, he only had a single tooth left in his mouth. Some historians have theorized that the president's inaugural address was short because of the tremendous amount of pain he was in thanks to his poor dental health. Known to be a man of short fuse, some historians ponder the possibility of his dental pain to have contributed to his quick temper.

One set of George Washington's famous dentures.

Multiple dentists of the time period were known to have fashioned dentures for Washington over the span of his life. Though none were crafted from wood, many others contained human and cow teeth affixed in materials such as hippo ivory, gold, brass, or even lead. A pair of springs pushing against one another provided the pressure needed to keep the dentures in Washington's mouth. The first president was known to suffer much discomfort from the dentures and they were known to give his mouth a bulky appearance.


One of the only existing sets of George Washington's dentures are on display at his Mount Vernon estate. For more information on Washington's dental health and his array of dentures, check out this article from American Revolution. For additional information on how keep your teeth healthy, visit the official site of Dr. Larry James, D.D.S.; bringing the brightest smiles to Tulsa, OK and the surrounding areas. 

Why Hitler Rarely Smiled

Adolf Hitler, possibly pouting over an
upcoming dentist appointment.

During World War II, one of the most sought after bits of information the Allies wanted about Adolf Hitler, the megalomaniacal leader of the Third Reich, in addition to his whereabouts and plans for the future were his dental records. While the Allies were not particularly concerned about whether or not the dictator had been flossing every day, the Fuehrer's dental records were one of the only ways they would be able to accurately identify his remains in the event of his demise. Fortunately for them, Hitler had a secret that would end up helping them in the long run: Hitler was terrified of going to the dentist. 


When most think of Adolf Hitler, the tyrannical supreme chancellor of Nazi Germany, they usually don't think of a guy who was scared of going to the dentist. According to a medical review of Hitler's dental records in addition to notes from his personal dentist, Johannes Blaschke, Hitler was terrified of going to the dentist and evidence of this could be seen in his mouth. Additional reports claim that Hitler would start crying before he ever got to the dentist's chair. According to a story from Daily Mail, Hitler had his dentist extend a relatively routine root canal procedure to take 8 days because "he couldn't stand the pain." The dentist reported that Hitler had "terribly bad breath, abscesses and gum disease" and that he had to fill ten cavities in his mouth in 1944 alone. His dentist attributed the terrible state of his teeth to a very poor diet early in life in addition to a failure to keep up with his personal oral hygiene.


With advances in dental technology, there is no longer any reason to fear the dentist's chair. Still, the very best way to help limit your time in the dentist's chair is by regular brushing, flossing, and a recommended dental cleaning with exam every 6 months. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Larry James, D.D.S., and stay on top of top of your dental health.


Here is a special message from Dr. Larry James, D.D.S. regarding this topic: 


"My father fought in WW II. My godparents were Russian Jews. My godfather was son to the last candymaker to Czar Nicholas. This is an interesting point from history.  We can't ignore the past, even when it's unpleasant. However, we can lose any sympathy for this man having abscessed teeth."



For a look at a drawing Hitler's dental records, click here. Disclaimer: it isn't pretty. 

"I'm Gonna Make a Million Dollars and Buy You a House."

When it comes to having teeth extracted, most people's greatest fears are of any potential pain endured from the procedure, but as Chaddy (the above featured teenager immediately after his extraction) discovered, you have more to fear from friends with video cameras who document your silly behavior while still under the influence of the anesthesia. In the video, Chaddy makes some very large promises to his parents and becomes increasingly emotional when discussing the topic of eating ice cream with his father. It's too bad this footage has already gone viral on the internet otherwise chatty Chaddy's parent could have used it to blackmail him into doing his chores. 


For more a more in-depth breakdown of the video, check out the Huffington Post's coverage of the video. In order to determine if this could possibly happen to you, visit the official website of Tulsa's own Dr. Larry James and schedule your next dental appointment. 

What's In a Filling?

So, you have a cavity and it needs to be filled. When a cavity is detected and needs to be filled, there is a growing array of material that can be used. Still, with advances in the types of material that can used to fill a cavity, the two most popular materials are dental amalgam or resin composite. 

For over 150 years, dentists have used dental amalgam to fill cavities in teeth. Most popularly referred to a metal, gold, or silver filling, the amalgam used in fillings is most commonly a combination of silver, tin, copper, and mercury. Mercury makes up around 50% of the filling and is used to bind the other metals together which adhere to tooth using a dental cement-like material. It is a favorite amongst patients for its less expensive price tag and extensive lifespan. It is a favorite amongst dentists because of its ease of use. Dental amalgam is most popular for filling cavities in the back of the mouth. For front teeth, a composite resin is much more popular for its aesthetic value. 


Composite resin is a tooth-like material most commonly used where the material would be visible. It is most primarily composed of a mixture of powdered glass, plastic resin, and ceramic compounds. Though it is not nearly as strong as dental amalgam and are more expensive, many favor the material when the cavity needing to be filled is in a visible area.


Before you have your cavities filled, discuss your options for what materials are available for your dental filling. For an additional overview of filling material, check out this post from Delta Dental. If it's been a while since you've last had your teeth examined for cavities and other problems, contact the dental professionals at the Tulsa offices of Dr. Larry James, D.D.S.. Catching problems early makes it easier, less costly, and possibly less painful to reverse. In order to have your teeth examined by the best, contact the Tulsa's dental professionals at Dr. Larry James, D.D.S..