Dental School Preserves Past
Inside the UNLV School of Dental Medicine sit two display cases that are a stark contrast to the ultra-modern dental facility— meticulously re-created turn of the century and 1920s dentist office exhibits.

“Many faculty and staff grew up with at least some of the features seen in the displays,” said UNLV School of Dental Medicine Dean Karen West. “They often comment that the dental chairs, ‘cuspidors,’ and slow-speed drills bring back some vivid childhood memories of their family dentist.”

Dental history preservation motivated more than 17 Southern Nevada donors to loan the items in these two unique presentations that showcase how far the field of dentistry has come in the past 100 years. 

“History is an integral part of everyone’s life that needs to be shared and preserved for the future of the profession of dentistry and our society as a whole,” said Dr. Richard Kozal one of the motivating forces behind the artifacts.

Gathering the myriad elements for the display cases was a labor of love for Dr. Kozal and others involved.

“This project took over five years to come to fruition,” said Dr. Kozal. “It was the dedication of several individuals, and most of all the donors who believed in the preservation of our history.”

While UNLV dental school students continue to invent the future of dentistry, these displays provide students, faculty, and visitors with a deeper understanding of where the field has been and far it has come.