Today, we visit the dentist for regular cleanings, cavity checks, and to keep our smiles bright. But in the 1800s — during the reign of Queen Victoria in the United Kingdom — teeth had another surprising purpose: they were often turned into jewelry.
Yes, you read that right. In the Victorian era (1837-1901), it was common for people to preserve and wear natural teeth, especially milk teeth (baby teeth), as part of sentimental keepsakes. These pieces were worn as a way to remember loved ones — both living and deceased.
Let’s take a closer look at how and why teeth became part of the fashion of the day, and how these traditions connect to the dental world we know now.
A Time of Sentiment and Mourning
The Victorian era was a time of strict social customs, including formal rules around grieving and remembrance. After the death of her husband, Prince Albert, in 1861, Queen Victoria wore black clothing and mourning jewelry for the rest of her life — over 40 years. This sparked a trend across British society: mourning jewelry became widely worn as a way to remember loved ones who had passed.
These jewelry pieces often included locks of hair, initials, or teeth, usually set into brooches, lockets, rings, or pendants. Unlike modern fashion jewelry, these keepsakes were deeply personal.
Teeth as Tokens of Love and Memory
So why use teeth?
Victorians believed that a tooth held deep emotional value. Losing a tooth — especially a child’s first deciduous tooth (commonly called a baby or milk tooth) — marked a milestone. Instead of tossing it under a pillow for the Tooth Fairy, some families chose to preserve and set it into jewelry as a memory of childhood.
Queen Victoria herself had a brooch made from her daughter Princess Victoria’s first lost tooth. The tooth was carved into the shape of a thistle flower and placed into a gold setting to commemorate a family trip to Scotland. Later, three of her youngest daughter’s primary teeth were made into a matching pendant and earrings, shaped like fuchsia flowers.
These items were not made out of grief — but out of love, celebration, and maternal pride.
Common Types of Victorian Tooth Jewelry
Victorian tooth jewelry came in many forms. Some pieces were simple; others were ornate:
- Brooches: Flat, decorative pins often worn on clothing, some holding one or more incisors or canines.
- Lockets: Small pendants that opened to reveal a molar, along with a photo or lock of hair.
- Rings: Crafted with small enamel inlays, often surrounding a baby tooth in the center.
- Earrings: Occasionally featured small teeth dangling like charms.
Sometimes the teeth were polished, and other times they were left natural to preserve the realistic look. Jewelers used gold, silver, jet, or vulcanite (a hard rubber) to set the teeth in place. In some cases, they added engraving, like the date a tooth was lost, or sweet phrases like “Our Baby’s First Tooth.”
Mourning Jewelry and Tooth Adornments
While many pieces were made from living children’s milk teeth, others included extracted teeth from deceased relatives. This was part of a broader tradition of mourning jewelry, which was worn to show sadness and respect for someone who had died.
In a time before photography was common, these personal items were cherished ways to feel close to a lost loved one. A tooth — once held in the alveolar socket (the bone socket in the jaw) — became a lasting memento.
The Dental Connection: Then and Now
As strange as it may seem to modern patients, Victorian tooth jewelry reflected a deep connection to family and memory. Dentistry during that time wasn’t nearly as advanced. There was no fluoride, no electric toothbrushes, and dental extractions were often done at home or without anesthesia.
Because of poor oral hygiene, many people had tooth loss due to dental caries (cavities) or periodontal disease (gum disease). Extracted teeth — whether due to natural causes or decay — were sometimes saved, especially if they were from a loved one.
In some cases, even animal teeth from hunting trips were used in jewelry. Prince Albert once gave Queen Victoria gifts made from the teeth and claws of animals he hunted, turning them into rings and pendants as tokens of affection.
What We Can Learn from Victorian Tooth Jewelry
Though we no longer wear teeth as accessories, the practice speaks to how meaningful oral health and teeth can be in our lives. Think about it:
- Losing your first tooth is still a big milestone today.
- Retaining your natural teeth into old age is often seen as a sign of good health.
- Tooth replacement (with dental implants, crowns, or dentures) shows how important our smiles are to our confidence and well-being.
Victorian tooth jewelry reminds us that our teeth tell stories — stories of growth, aging, family, and sometimes loss. While we no longer turn extracted teeth into earrings, we do preserve memories through dental photos, baby books, and even tooth keepsake boxes.
A Smile from the Past
Today’s dentists focus on preventive care, restorative dentistry, and cosmetic treatments to keep your smile healthy and strong. But in the Victorian era, a tooth lost was a precious keepsake — worthy of being polished, engraved, and worn with pride.
Though the idea of turning a molar into a necklace might make you raise an eyebrow today, it’s a fascinating glimpse into the history of both dentistry and how we value the people in our lives.
As dental practices have evolved over the years, it’s fascinating to think back to how Victorians used teeth not just as part of the body but as sentimental keepsakes. What was once a symbol of love, loss, and personal connection has transformed into something we now cherish for its unique history. Today, whether it’s a precious keepsake or a modern dental accessory, the significance of teeth in jewelry reminds us of the emotional connections they have always carried.
https://artrkl.com/blogs/news/victorian-tooth-jewelry
https://www.drbicuspid.com/dental-specialties/smile-design
