Did George Washington Have Wooden Dentures?

It’s February, the month we celebrate President’s Day, when we honor George Washington, the first president of the United States. Most of us learned about Washington in grade school, and many learned at some point about his “wooden teeth.” It’s a legend that has taken on the aura of truth for over two centuries, but it isn’t true. What IS true is that he had dentures, or false teeth, from a young age.

George Washington’s Teeth

President Washington had oral health problems from a young age. By the time he took his first oath of office in 1789, he had only one natural tooth left. Losing some teeth wasn’t all that uncommon for adults a few centuries ago, but Washington had lost more than the typical individual of his age. Most likely, he didn’t practice good oral hygiene, as even after he began wearing dentures, he didn’t take good care of them. At least one dentist who crafted and repaired dentures for Washington wrote to him complaining that they were not well cared for and that the president needed to be more attentive.

Like most people with missing teeth in the last half of the 1700s, George Washington’s options for replacing missing teeth were limited. The dentures available were poorly designed, poorly fitted, and incredibly uncomfortable. It’s no surprise you never see a painting of George Washington smiling – he was in nearly constant pain from his dentures!

The legend of his wooden teeth probably originated during his lifetime. Some people who saw his dentures when he spoke assumed the teeth were wooden because they were streaked with stains that gave the appearance of wood grain. Sadly, the intense staining was probably because he neglected proper cleaning of the dentures. Washington was also known to do his own repairs on his dentures. When he was repairing them, including attempts at reshaping them to fit better, others assumed he was “carving” them from wood.

George Washington’s Dentures

Courtesy of Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association.

Throughout Washington’s lifetime, he had multiple sets of dentures made from various materials. Most dentures at that time were hinged at the back, using springs to allow them to open and close. Pinching of the inside of the mouth and the tongue was common when wearing them. Because there was no way to custom fit dentures at the time, dentures used a rough measurement of the mouth and made dentures that would fit inside the mouth but didn’t fit properly over the jaw ridges and gums. The dentures irritated the gums and cheeks, sometimes leading to chronic sores in the mouth.

Washington’s various dentures were made from walrus, hippo, and elephant ivory; animal and human teeth; and metals such as brass, lead, gold, and silver. Wooden pegs or metal screws were sometimes used to hold the individual teeth within their frames.

How Dentures Have Changed

If he were alive today, George Washington would be amazed by the quality and comfort of today’s dentures. We’ve come a long way from hippopotamus ivory, animal bones, and wooden or lead frames with springs and wires. Today’s dentures are made of high-quality, biocompatible materials such as resin, acrylic, nylon, or porcelain. These materials are safe, strong, and closely resemble natural teeth.

Modern dentures are custom created to match each individual’s mouth, jaw ridge, and gums to prevent rubbing or painful pressure points. At The Denture Center, we craft every patient’s dentures with personal care and attention. We make our dentures in-office and refine them with your feedback to ensure a perfect fit so that you can leave with a smile. Our goal is a perfect, custom fit and total comfort with every pair of dentures. George Washington would be jealous.