National Museum of Dentistry - Art Spot

Ever wonder which teeth are your central incisors and which are your lateral incisors? Me neither, but apparently visitors of the National Museum of Dentistry do. Packed with statues, photographs, informational posters and a Crest- sponsored media center, my trip to the museum was not a total waste of time. It was better than, I don't know, getting a tooth pulled.

The main entrance was almost obnoxiously bright with large "happy teeth" smiling at you all over the place as if to make fun of you for even visiting. Generally, the museum displays information on the history of dentistry, health tips and random bizarre information such as Banana George's ability to waterski using a mouthpiece instead of a handhold due to his extraordinary tooth and jaw strength. The museum's newest exhibits include African- Americans in Dentistry, Technology's Impact in Dentistry, and The Art of Smiles: Posters Around the World.

I decided on the poster exhibit, which featured a collection of dental advertising posters and stamps from Europe and the United States. Large in size and bold in color, the posters were designed to promote dental products such as toothpaste, mouthwash and pain-relievers from the 1900s to 1950s. Their artistic style reflected that of the early 20th century, and for a moment, I got so lost in their beauty that I almost forgot that they were ads. I have to say, the dental world's first attempt at mass marketing was certainly successful in my eyes. Or mouth, I guess.

Otherwise, there is a lot to do while wandering the National Museum of dentistry; you can try to identify celebrities by their teeth, learn about the development of the teeth in your own mouth (complete with a cartoon drawing of each stage of development), and look at artifacts of old- fashioned toothbrushes and myths of the dental world. The museum seemed to be aimed at young children, which is why school field trips are their main source of business. The gift shop was my favorite part (always is), and for some reason I couldn't help but buy a pair of chatter-teeth and a tooth eraser.

After the National Museum of Dentistry, it is doubtful that any non-tooth-related exhibit will compare, and one leaves its dentifriced halls full of detailed information about dental history, tooth care, and the lack of attention dentistry gets among young adults. (Why they even bring that up is beyond me.) But for a profession with one of the highest suicide rates, it sure was entertaining. If you've been to the aquarium and the Baltimore Museum of Art, and you're looking for something new, take a visit the old dentistry museum. Cause hey, as Jerry Seinfeld put it, maybe you'll want to be a "sadist with newer magazines" someday.