The Forgotten History of Toothdrawers: Unscientific Dental Procedures in the 18th and 19th Centuries

A toothdrawer was a person who performed dental extractions, typically without any formal training or qualifications. The term "toothdrawer" was used in the 18th and 19th centuries before the development of modern dentistry. These individuals would often perform procedures such as pulling teeth, trephining (a form of trepanation), and bloodletting, which were considered to be effective treatments at the time but are now recognized as unscientific and potentially harmful.

The term "toothdrawer" is derived from the Old English words "tooth" and "draw," referring to the act of drawing or pulling out teeth. These individuals were often itinerant, traveling from town to town to perform their services, and were sometimes viewed with suspicion or fear by the general public. As modern dentistry developed and became more widespread, the practice of toothdrawing declined and eventually disappeared.