Florence Watts Dental Ledger Odontogram - Gold Inlay Porcelain Inlay 1929
$ 11.09
Description
Florence Watts Dental Ledger Odontogram - Gold Inlay Porcelain Inlay 1929. The odontogram, or tooth chart, occupies the left portion of the card and is marked with period clinical notations. These markings record the condition of Miss Watts’s teeth, including restorations and missing teeth, using the symbolic language of early dentistry. This vintage dental record is a combined odontogram and payment ledger for a patient named Miss Florence Watts, documenting her dental care and financial account across a decade from 1919 to 1929. The item originates from the professional office archive of a dentist, likely operating in the New York City area, as indicated by the printed form from the H.C.S. Sheppard Company of New York. The card is a substantial piece of early twentieth-century medical ephemera, offering a detailed glimpse into the record-keeping and restorative dental practices of the period. The odontogram, or tooth chart, occupies the left portion of the card and is marked with period clinical notations. These markings record the condition of Miss Watts’s teeth, including restorations and missing teeth, using the symbolic language of early dentistry. The chart shows several teeth indicated with markings for fillings or other restorative work, with a concentration of treatment on the lower left quadrant. One tooth on the lower left is marked with an “X” and a notation that appears to read “Porc. Inlay,” indicating a porcelain inlay restoration. Adjacent teeth show markings for gold inlays or fillings, with one notation reading “Gold Inlay.” Another tooth on the lower right is marked with a “C” and a notation that reads “Jacket Crown,” referencing a full-coverage dental crown, a sophisticated restorative procedure for the era. These entries provide specific evidence of high-quality, private restorative dentistry performed for the patient. The right side of the card functions as a payment ledger, recording services rendered and payments made. The first entry, dated September 26, 1929, lists a cleaning and examination for fifteen dollars, which was paid in full on November 16, 1929. A second entry from January 24, 1930, records another cleaning for ten dollars, paid on February 15, 1930. The presence of earlier, partially legible entries from 1919 suggests that this card was used over a longer period, with the later entries representing the final phase of the patient’s relationship with this dentist. The billing amounts, particularly the fifteen-dollar fee for a cleaning and exam, reflect the costs of private dental care in the late 1920s. The physical condition of this card is consistent with its age and storage history. It has been folded along its original creases and may be shipped in that folded state. The paper exhibits toning and is slightly brittle towards the edges, with minor edge wear and some light staining. The handwritten entries remain legible, and the clinical markings on the odontogram are clear. This is a fine example of named-patient dental ephemera from the Jazz Age, of interest to collectors of medical history, ephemera focused on New York professionals, and those researching the history of restorative dentistry and odontograms. PLEASE NOTE: This item may be shipped according to how it was originally folded.
