Tooth-Key, by Maw & Son, London, c. 1825

Tooth key, by Maw & Son, London, c. 1825. Long metal instrument with one square end (which would originally have had a handle attached to it but is no longer present) and a claw-shaped clamp at the other end that would have been fixed to the diseased tooth to pull it out. This was a crude method that often resulted in broken teeth, tissue damage and jaw fractures. By the turn of the 20th century, forceps had rendered dental keys obsolete.