Among the quirky artifacts at Temple University’s Historical Dental Museum, one particularly unusual item stands out: a necklace made entirely from human teeth. This unique piece was crafted by the infamous “Painless Parker,” a dentist known for his flamboyant and theatrical approach to dentistry in the early 20th century.
Painless Parker was a showman dentist who earned his nickname from his use of various methods to reduce pain, including using large amounts of local anesthesia which was quite novel at the time. He was also known for his public tooth extractions at carnivals, where he would pull teeth on stage as part of a spectacle. The teeth extracted during these shows didn’t go to waste; Parker strung them into a necklace, showcasing his skills and perhaps serving as a bizarre testament to his dental prowess.
Check out this article from Vintage News Daily to learn more about Painless Parker.
