... course, Saint Apollonia's toothache was of a different sort. As the ecclesiastical writer Eusebius explains, Apollonia was an old woman who fell victim to Roman persecutors of the 3rd century AD in Alexandria, Egypt. Her jaw was battered until all her teeth were knocked out. When pushed to renounce her Christian faith, Apollonia chose instead to martyr herself on a pyre. And thus, on February 9th 249 AD, was born the saint and icon of comfort for any who suffer a toothache.

This illustration of Apollonia depicts her with her insignia a tooth held by a forceps. It is unusual, however, since it shows the saint in sympathetic gaze with a toothache sufferer. Typically, Apollonia stands alone. The wood cut was inspiration for the stamp issued below.

Dental forceps are often considered the oldest tools of the trade whatever their shape or size, the function remains the same. These three examples are some of the earliest ones here at the Sindecuse Museum. The smallest pair was used by a traveling dentist in Ohio during the mid-19th century.

As dentistry coalesced into a formalized profession especially throughout the 19th century, so too did it inherit a patron saint in Apollonia. Dr. Nolla, the artist of this piece, received an M.S. in pedodontics from the University of Michigan in 1952.

This painting portrays Apollonia as a young woman, the persona that quickly came to be associated with the saint. Images such as this were common in churches throughout Europe from the 14th century AD onward. Interestingly, evidence on the canvas itself suggests this portrait was part of a larger ensemble, perhaps an altarpiece.

These two photos illustrate before and after conservation treatment on the St. Apollonia painting, completed in 2005.

Stamp collection of Zelma R. Myers, former Registrar, School of Dentistry; Commemorating the 13th Biennial Congress of Dentists.