Embedded Files
Main museum sign located in the atrium inside the building, positioned above the main exhibit (October 2024). Photo by Preya Patel.
Filling in Cavities and Filling Gaps in Time
Filling in Cavities and Filling Gaps in Time
by Preya Patel
If you’ve ever wondered how the tools that keep our smiles healthy evolved from medieval-style devices to high-tech instruments, there’s a place on the University of Michigan’s Central Campus that tells that very story: the Sindecuse Museum of Dentistry. Tucked beneath the School of Dentistry, this hidden gem showcases the medical innovation that transformed dentistry “from a belittled trade, practiced by blacksmiths, barbers and quacks, to a respected and technologically advanced health profession” (Barnes 35).
The museum’s namesake, alumnus Gordon H. Sindecuse, was more than just a dentist; he was a pivotal figure in the preservation of dental progress ("Gordon"). Sindecuse’s connection to the University of Michigan runs deep. He graduated from the School of Dentistry and later established his own practice in Kalamazoo, Michigan ("Gordon"). Having lived through a time of rapid technological advancements, Sindecuse understood the importance of chronicling culminating changes to the profession. In the later years of his life, Sindecuse donated one million dollars to UM to ensure that the evolution of dental instruments would be documented for future generations ("Gordon"). Established in 1991, the museum honors his legacy and serves as a medium to remind patients how dentistry came to be. Of note, Sindecuse is also the namesake of the Sindecuse Health Center at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, where Gordon and his family called home.
Photo of Gordon H. Sindecuse (1921). Photo courtesy: sindecusemuseum.org
Photo of floss and toothbrush exhibit (first floor): Silk Brunswick Dental Floss (1898-1930), Ivory Toothbrush with Pig Bristles (late 1880s), and Red Toothbrush with DuPont Nylon Bristles (1938-1940s). Photo by Preya Patel (October 2024).
The museum houses various exhibits showcasing different aspects of the dental practice. For example, there’s an exhibit dedicated to the evolution of early X-ray machines—once dangerous and lacking radiation containment—into the safer, radiation-controlled devices used today. Beyond just practical innovations, however, the museum also houses everything from silk floss to two-inch toothbrushes, showcasing not only the challenges and subsequent triumphs of dentistry, but also its oddities. As The Michigan Daily put it, “No matter how much the medieval-looking torture devices make you squirm or how boring dental history may seem, a visit to this little-known showcase is truly a jaw-dropping experience” (Arumugam).
The name Gordon, meaning "great hill" or "spacious fort," connotes strength and protection, fitting for someone who safeguarded the legacy of dentistry’s advancements (Green). The name reached peak popularity in 1935, in the middle of Sindecuse’s lifetime, ranking 70th of the most popular baby names (“Popularity”). The surname Sindecuse is just as unique as the purpose of the museum to which it’s tied. In fact, the Sindecuse Museum is “one of only a handful of museums throughout the world devoted to preserving and exhibiting the history of dentistry” ("Sindecuse").
While the museum does offer a unique and arguably “niche” perspective on dentistry, it is not just reserved for dental professionals or students. The Sindecuse Museum of Dentistry is open to the general public. Thanks to figures like Gordon Sindecuse, whose commitment to preserving the field’s history ensures that these stories are not forgotten, the museum highlights developments that impact everyone. After all, we may not all be dentists, but we are all patients– and whether or not X-ray machines have effectively evolved to safely contain their own radiation is in all of our best interests.
Works Cited
Arumugam, Anu. "Pulling teeth is an art at the Sindecuse Museum of Dentistry." The Michigan Daily [Ann Arbor], 26 Jan. 2010, www.michigandaily.com/uncategorized/dentistry-museum-profile/. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
Barnes, Tamara. "U-M's Sindecuse Museum of Dentistry: A Treasure in Our Own Backyard." The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association, vol. 105, no. 11, 1 Nov. 2023, pp. 32-41, commons.ada.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1140&context=journalmichigandentalassociation. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
"Gordon H. Sindecuse 1898 - 1993." Sindecuse Museum, www.sindecusemuseum.org/gordon-h-sindecuse. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
Green, Clare. "Gordon Origin and Meaning." Nameberry, 6 Oct. 2024, nameberry.com/b/boy-baby-name-gordon. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
"Popularity of Baby Names." Social Security Administration, www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/babyname.cgi. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
"Sindecuse Museum of Dentistry." Sindecuse Museum of Dentistry, www.sindecusemuseum.org/. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
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