Dental Instruments

"Dental Instruments: Past and Present," an exhibit created by Stony Brook University Libraries (9), provides an insight into the tools that have been at the forefront of dental care from the 19th century to the present. By making dental work more efficient and less invasive, each advancement has significantly improved patient care.

We would also like to highlight a collection owned by the Dental Museum that is on display at the Faculty of Dentistry’s Dean’s Conference room, “The Van Baarsel P.O.W. Instrument Collection.” These instruments were made by Doctor Jacobus Marius van Baarsel during World War II while he was a prisoner of the Japanese in Sumatra. His is a remarkable story about the resilience and innovation of dental professionals. Despite limited resources, he managed to create dental instruments from materials like tin and nickel, demonstrating an extraordinary dedication to providing dental care under the most challenging circumstances. He was granted a posthumous DDS from U of T in 1956. His ingenuity and commitment not only alleviated the suffering of many fellow prisoners but also left a legacy in the field of dentistry, inspiring future generations to persevere and innovate even in the face of adversity. To read the letter he wrote to the Dental Museum when he donated the chest to the Faculty, follow this link: Dr. van Baarsel's letter and transcription.

A description of the Van Baarsel P.O.W. Instrument collection with a photo of Dr. Van Baarsel in the top right corner. From the Dental Museum Collection. View a transcription here.
Images and descriptions of items in the Van Baarsel collection, including a spoon, a spatula, two explorers, three elevators, and two forceps. From the Dental Museum Collection. View a transcription here.
Images and descriptions of items in the Van Baarsel collection, including four plastic instruments, two scalers, three thumb forceps, a mouth mirror, and the box the instruments were kept in. From the Dental Museum Collection. View a transcription here.

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In addition to the resources mentioned above, our library has an extensive collection of catalogs of dental instruments, apparatus and dental materials, detailing their design and function. These catalogs, dating back to 1852, include items manufactured by the Samuel Stockton White Dental Manufacturing Company, Claudius Ash & Sons, and Joseph Gray & Son, among other manufacturers.

Today, 3D printing/scanning technologies are transforming the production of dental instruments, allowing for rapid prototyping and customization to a patient's specific anatomy, leading to better fit and comfort. This customization is particularly beneficial in creating patient-specific dental implants, crowns, and orthodontic devices, leading to improved patient outcomes and satisfaction (10-12). Moreover, a 2024 article discussed a 3D bioprinting technology that has revolutionized tissue engineering, enabling the treatment of maxillofacial diseases with restorative tissues that meet both functional and aesthetic needs (13).

AI's impact on dental instruments is particularly significant in diagnostic tools. For example, AI algorithms have demonstrated efficacy in the automated detection of dental conditions such as caries and oral cancer, thereby assisting clinicians in making timely and informed decisions. The ability of AI to analyze vast datasets allows for more predictable treatment outcomes, which is crucial for improving patient care (14-16).