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​Enjoy a treasure trove of dental history in this one-of-a-kind museum located on the site of the very first school of dentistry in America founded by Dr. John Harris in 1827.  Filled with objects cataloging the history of dental progress, the Dr. John Harris Dental Museum shows just how far dentistry has come from the days of its earliest instruction in Bainbridge, OH. 

 

During your tour, you'll learn about Dr. John Harris and his legacy as the founder of dental education in America. You'll get a glimpse into the lifestyle of the students who first learned dentistry under his guidance, and you'll see a vast array of dental implements and find out how they shaped dentistry as we know it today.

 

Gain a whole new level of appreciation for your next trip to the dentist with a visit to the Dr. John Harris Dental Museum.

Dr. John Harris, a medical doctor from Cincinnati, settled in Bainbridge in the mid-1820's. In the fall of 1827, he began teaching classes for those who wished to study "preparatory" to entering a medical college. The following spring, his advertisements emphasized his interest in dentistry, a specialty he favored in both practice and instruction.

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The school Dr. Harris founded was short lived. By 1830 he had moved to nearby Chillicothe, abandoning his practice and leaving behind a group of nine students. Although small, this group played an important role in the future of dental education. Two of the students went on to form the first two dental colleges in the United States. Thus, the Dr. John Harris Dental Museum has been designated "The Cradle of Dentistry."

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Dr. Harris' home and the site of instruction for the original class stands preserved today as a landmark in the history of dentistry and as a listing on the National Registry of Historic Places.

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