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[Thread 
] Have you heard about #toothtransplants in the past? They were particularly popular by the 18th c. Why? Sugar abuse! By this period the wealthy classes were hooked on the stuff. And we really mean hooked! 
#oldoptheatre #dentistry #histmed
![[Thread ] Have you heard about #toothtransplants in the past? They were particularly popular by the 18th c. Why? Sugar abuse! By this period the wealthy classes were hooked on the stuff. And we really mean hooked! #oldoptheatre #dentistry #histmed](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EVZZmVdXgAEOFh-.jpg "[Thread ] Have you heard about #toothtransplants in the past? They were particularly popular by the 18th c. Why? Sugar abuse! By this period the wealthy classes were hooked on the stuff. And we really mean hooked! #oldoptheatre #dentistry #histmed")
] Have you heard about #toothtransplants in the past? They were particularly popular by the 18th c. Why? Sugar abuse! By this period the wealthy classes were hooked on the stuff. And we really mean hooked! #oldoptheatre #dentistry #histmed
[Thread ]With little understanding of proper dental hygiene, their teeth soon rotted away to black stumps. Fashionable ladies and gents sauntered around with foul-smelling breath which inevitably made courtship a tricky business!
![[Thread ]With little understanding of proper dental hygiene, their teeth soon rotted away to black stumps. Fashionable ladies and gents sauntered around with foul-smelling breath which inevitably made courtship a tricky business!](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EVZc7bZWAAAUkK5.jpg "[Thread ]With little understanding of proper dental hygiene, their teeth soon rotted away to black stumps. Fashionable ladies and gents sauntered around with foul-smelling breath which inevitably made courtship a tricky business!")
]With little understanding of proper dental hygiene, their teeth soon rotted away to black stumps. Fashionable ladies and gents sauntered around with foul-smelling breath which inevitably made courtship a tricky business!
[Thread ]There are even death certificates citing âteethâ as the cause!So, with the danger of spinsterhood or even death looming, many ladies visited a trusted professional for a transplant. James Spence, one of John Hunter´s collaborators, was considered the best in his field.
![[Thread ]There are even death certificates citing âteethâ as the cause!So, with the danger of spinsterhood or even death looming, many ladies visited a trusted professional for a transplant. James Spence, one of John Hunter´s collaborators, was considered the best in his field.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EVZfJCqXgAAfsqi.jpg "[Thread ]There are even death certificates citing âteethâ as the cause!So, with the danger of spinsterhood or even death looming, many ladies visited a trusted professional for a transplant. James Spence, one of John Hunter´s collaborators, was considered the best in his field.")
]There are even death certificates citing âteethâ as the cause!So, with the danger of spinsterhood or even death looming, many ladies visited a trusted professional for a transplant. James Spence, one of John Hunter´s collaborators, was considered the best in his field.
[Thread]He could restore a beautiful smile within a couple of hours. It was standard practice to pull teeth from the mouths of the poor who couldnât afford sugary treats. Spence paid a decent price for teeth so there was no shortage of donors queuing at the back of his surgery.
![[Thread]He could restore a beautiful smile within a couple of hours. It was standard practice to pull teeth from the mouths of the poor who couldnât afford sugary treats. Spence paid a decent price for teeth so there was no shortage of donors queuing at the back of his surgery.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EVZf7reXsAUeI2H.jpg "[Thread]He could restore a beautiful smile within a couple of hours. It was standard practice to pull teeth from the mouths of the poor who couldnât afford sugary treats. Spence paid a decent price for teeth so there was no shortage of donors queuing at the back of his surgery.")
]He could restore a beautiful smile within a couple of hours. It was standard practice to pull teeth from the mouths of the poor who couldnât afford sugary treats. Spence paid a decent price for teeth so there was no shortage of donors queuing at the back of his surgery.
[Thread]He would pull the tooth from a donor, give it a wipe, and pop it straight in the mouth of his patient. Not only did the majority of transplants fail due to rejection, he apparently infected at least seven of his patients with syphilis (surprising, we know!).
![[Thread]He would pull the tooth from a donor, give it a wipe, and pop it straight in the mouth of his patient. Not only did the majority of transplants fail due to rejection, he apparently infected at least seven of his patients with syphilis (surprising, we know!).](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EVZgQ0nXgAADBPj.jpg "[Thread]He would pull the tooth from a donor, give it a wipe, and pop it straight in the mouth of his patient. Not only did the majority of transplants fail due to rejection, he apparently infected at least seven of his patients with syphilis (surprising, we know!).")
]He would pull the tooth from a donor, give it a wipe, and pop it straight in the mouth of his patient. Not only did the majority of transplants fail due to rejection, he apparently infected at least seven of his patients with syphilis (surprising, we know!).
[Thread]There were strong critics to the reliability and safety of Spenceâs transplants, but it was the invention of ceramic teeth that finally finished off the practice (what a relief!). And you thought you hated visiting the dentist! 
#dentistry
Images: Wellcome Collection.
![[Thread]There were strong critics to the reliability and safety of Spenceâs transplants, but it was the invention of ceramic teeth that finally finished off the practice (what a relief!). And you thought you hated visiting the dentist! #dentistryImages: Wellcome Collection.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EVZhE5aWsAE9tnc.jpg "[Thread]There were strong critics to the reliability and safety of Spenceâs transplants, but it was the invention of ceramic teeth that finally finished off the practice (what a relief!). And you thought you hated visiting the dentist! #dentistryImages: Wellcome Collection.")
]There were strong critics to the reliability and safety of Spenceâs transplants, but it was the invention of ceramic teeth that finally finished off the practice (what a relief!). And you thought you hated visiting the dentist! #dentistryImages: Wellcome Collection.
