A brief history of dental history

Laughing gas, turn keys and ivory teeth are elements in the story of dental history.

At 7:30 p.m. Monday, Samuel S. Wexler D.D.S. of Richmond plans to take his audience on a painless trip back to the dental parlors of the 1840s when there was probably a lot of pain and travel forward to today's modern dental office.

His presentation, "Dental History from the 1840s to the Present," is part of the McHenry County Historical Society's annual Sampler Series and will be held at the society's museum, 6422 Main St., Union.

Wexler, a 1964 graduate of the University of Illinois Dental School, has been studying dental history and collecting antique dental equipment for 30 years. Wexler plans to display several of his dental artifacts during his talk.

His efforts in part helped establish dental museums at Still College of Dentistry, Mesa, Arizona; Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry; Marquette Dental School in Milwaukee to mention just a few.

Tickets can purchased at the door for $10. For information on the remaining lectures, other society programs, membership or local history facts, contact the society at (815) 923-2267 or on the Web site www.mchsonline.org.