Exhibition with bite

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Dentist's chair with treadle drill, ca 1900 Jürg Stauffer/Medizinhistorisches Institut und Museum der Universität Zürich

Model for school dental care programme of the 1960s-70s. The "tooth aunties" used him to teach children how to clean their teeth. Jürg Stauffer/Medizinhistorisches Institut und Museum der Universität Zürich

Left: The mouth gag held the patient's mouth open during full anaesthetic. Centre: Forceps for drawing teeth have been known since antiquity. Right: Twisting the dental key would extract a tooth. Jürg Stauffer/Medizinhistorisches Institut und Museum der Universität Zürich

Gold and gold leaf for fillings, 1916 Jürg Stauffer/Medizinhistorisches Institut und Museum der Universität Zürich

Model set of teeth, made of lead and brass, early 20th century. The model was probably used to treat fractured jaws. Jürg Stauffer/Medizinhistorisches Institut und Museum der Universität Zürich

St Apollonia, plaster, Germany, 19th century. She became popular in Europe as the patron saint of people with toothache and those treating them in the 14th century. She was canonised by the pope in the 17th century. Jürg Stauffer/Medizinhistorisches Institut und Museum der Universität Zürich

Mouthwashes have been around since antiquity. They protect against toothache, tooth loss and bad breath. Jürg Stauffer/Medizinhistorisches Institut und Museum der Universität Zürich

Various methods are used today when small children complain of toothache. Left: Rattle with piece of red coral, which the child can chew on, ca 1810. Centre: "Dentinox" tooth gel, Germany, 1950s. Right: Teething pendant made of iris root, also known as "violet root". Jürg Stauffer/Medizinhistorisches Institut und Museum der Universität Zürich

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All pictures: Jürg Stauffer / Institute and Museum of the History of Medicine of Zurich University