Lower volcanite denture
Date
Circa 1930s
Description
The denture has a pink gum with a badly packed 'whale bone' base (a term used for material which looked like whale bone). It was probably made in Australia.
One of the most significant advancements for dental prosthesis in the 19th century was the development of vulcanite as a base for dentures. The lack of a durable and affordable denture base material (porcelain denture teeth were already developed). Swaged gold, and carved ivory were used but were expensive and only affordable to the rich. Vulcanite or “rubber” dentures became a popular base for dentures because of their durability, affordability, strength, elasticity, and lightness and were in widespread usage by 1863. “Vulcanite” in vulcanite dentures does not refer to the mineral vulcanite but rather hardened rubber obtained through a process called “vulcanizing”.
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