Copy of an Etruscan denture, Europe

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Copy of an Etruscan denture, Europe. Science Museum, London. Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). Source: Wellcome Collection.

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Etruscans, people living in Etruria (Umbria and Tuscany, Italy), were the first to make dentures and false teeth, from 700 BCE onwards. Teeth from another person or an animal, such as an ox, were inserted into a band of gold with a metal pin and fitted on to the remaining teeth. The teeth could be easily removed if necessary. Imagine eating with another person’s teeth! Only wealthy people could afford this treatment. There were no specialist dentists so den-tistry was one of the duties of a physician. maker: Unknown maker Place made: Europe

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