Sindecuse Museum of Dentistry facts for kids
| Established | 1991 |
|---|---|
| Location | 1011 North University, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2229 |
| Collection size | 15,000 |
The Sindecuse Museum of Dentistry is a special museum all about the history of dentistry. It is run by the University of Michigan School of Dentistry in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This museum is one of only a few of its kind in the entire world! It gives visitors a unique look at how taking care of our teeth has changed over the years.
Contents
History of the Museum
How It All Started
The Sindecuse Museum officially opened in 1991. It was made possible by a generous gift from Dr. Gordon H. Sindecuse, who had graduated from the university's dental school back in 1921.
Even before the museum was officially created, its collection was already growing. For many years, teachers and staff at the School of Dentistry saved old equipment, photographs, and papers. People like Dr. Charles Kelsey and Professor Al Richards knew these items were important for remembering the history of dentistry and the dental school. They stored everything carefully, forming the foundation of the museum's collection.
Growing and Improving
The museum was first located in the lobby of the Kellogg Institute Building. In 1995, plans were made to make the museum bigger and better. After two years of construction work, the new and improved Sindecuse Museum opened on September 8, 2000.
The expansion created a beautiful new central area with a glass roof, which connected two buildings. The museum also got more space to show off its artifacts, a special room with climate control to protect delicate items, and modern storage to keep the collection safe.
Today, the museum is run by a professional team, including a curator (a person who manages a museum collection) and a collections coordinator. They also get help from students at the University of Michigan.
What's Inside the Collection?
The Sindecuse Museum of Dentistry has a huge collection of over 15,000 items! Because there are so many objects, only about 15 percent of them are on display at any one time. The collection focuses on how dental tools and the dental profession have developed, especially in the United States and Michigan.
The items in the museum range from the 1700s to today. You can see all sorts of fascinating things, including:
- Old dental chairs that look very different from the ones used today.
- Early dental X-ray machines.
- Equipment used to make dentures (false teeth).
- Strange old toothbrushes, some with heads more than two inches long!
- Dental floss made from silk.
- A collection of old toothpaste and tooth powders.
The museum also has exhibits on Saint Apollonia, who is known as the patron saint of dentistry. There is even a fun collection of children's books and toys all about teeth and dentists. You can also learn about famous dentists like Willoughby D. Miller, who was a graduate of the university.
