title: Keeping one in the air: iconography of the newly extracted tooth.
abstract: Tooth extraction remains a universally identifiable symbol of dentistry. Descriptions of the procedure in art and literature suggest three attributes of the dentist in the act of removing teeth: skill, power, and healing. Elements of the dentist's cultural identity are examined in light of the abundant imagery of dental extractions.
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Curtis
mesh_terms: D002359:Cartoons as Topic; D005060:Europe; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D008513:Medicine in Literature; D008512:Medicine in the Arts; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000266:history*; D014481:United States