Dental key

Dental key or tooth key was a primitive tool used for dental extraction. It was an early form of the modern forceps, but its use often led to broken teeth, tissue damage, or worse, due to its design and misuse.

History

The dental key was invented in the 18th century and was used until the late 19th century. Its design was inspired by the door key. The claw was placed over a tooth and the bolster was placed against the root of the tooth. A turn of the key would supposedly extract the tooth.

Design

The dental key was designed to be a simple tool for tooth extraction. It consisted of three parts: the handle, the shaft (or rod), and the claw. The handle was typically made of wood or metal and was designed to be held firmly. The shaft was a long, straight rod that connected the handle to the claw. The claw was the part of the tool that was used to grip the tooth for extraction.

Use and Misuse

The dental key was used by placing the claw over the tooth to be extracted and the bolster against the root of the tooth. The key was then turned, supposedly extracting the tooth. However, this method often resulted in broken teeth and tissue damage. In some cases, the use of the dental key even led to death due to infection or other complications.

Modern Alternatives

Today, the dental key has been replaced by more modern and safer tools for tooth extraction, such as dental forceps and elevators. These tools allow for a more controlled and less damaging extraction.

See Also

• Dental History
• Dental Instruments
• Dental Extraction
• Dental Forceps

Dental key Resources
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