George Washington Denture & Last Tooth on Display

The lower half of one of the nation’s most famous dentures and George Washington’s last remaining tooth are on display at Mount Vernon!

The lower half of one of the nation’s most famous dentures and George Washington’s last remaining tooth are on display at Mount Vernon!

On loan from The New York Academy of Medicine, the denture was the first of several dentures that John Greenwood made for Washington and is dated 1789, the year that Washington took his oath of office in New York City. The denture is engraved with: Under jaw. This is Great Washington’s teeth by J. Greenwood. First one made by J. Greenwood, Year 1789.

George Washington's last tooth

Carved from hippopotamus ivory, the denture contains real human teeth fixed in the ivory by means of brass screws. The denture, which was anchored on the one remaining tooth in Washington’s mouth, has a hole which fit snugly around the tooth and probably contributed to the loosening and eventual loss of that tooth.

Included in Estate admission.