National Museum of Health and Medicine Commemorates Centennial Anniversary of the U.S. Army Dental Corps with a Special Exhibit

March 2, 2011, Washington, D.C.: The National Museum of Health and Medicine is commemorating the 100th anniversary of the U.S. Army Dental Corps with a special limited-time exhibition of artifacts and images from the Museum's collections.

The exhibit, on display through April 3, 2011, will feature a brief history of the Army Dental Corps, as well as dental instruments from the Museum's Historic Collections, such as a turnkey, dentures, a closed-bite splint, and more. The exhibit is installed in the Museum's lobby.

The Army Dental Corps was founded on March 3, 1911, after it became increasingly apparent that trained dentists were needed on the battlefield. Soldiers requiring dental care were previously expected to find those services on their own and at their own expense.

The Museum also held a lunchtime talk, "The History of the Army Dental Corps: Putting the Bite in War-fighting," on March 3, 2011. COL Christopher Fielding, AFIP Oral Pathology, discussed the major contributions the Dental Corps over the last 100 years to ensure the health and readiness of our nation's soldiers. He also highlighted the important role dentistry has played in identifying deceased service members.