False Teeth -

Back in the 1950s there was no permanent dentist anywhere north of Geraldton in W.A.

For general extractions and minor dental work the local GPs were expected to step in and every couple of years the government would send a qualified dentist north to do the rounds.

During one such visit no less than 43 people in Halls Creek were in need of dentures.

Measurements were taken, casts were made and sent off to Perth for the dentures to be manufactured and six weeks later a big box full of dentures duly arrived.

There was only one problem, no one had bothered to identify which set of dentures belonged to which patient.

The solution was simple. The box of dentures was put on a stand near the hospital door, a bucket of disinfectant was placed next to it and a lot of paper towels were provided.

Over the next couple of weeks as the various patients arrived at the hospital, they tried each set of dentures until they found one that fitted and washed the others with disinfectand and dried them off with paper towels.

Eventually all the dentures were claimed and 43 happy Kimberley folk were able to chew their food somewhat better than before.

Adapted from ‘Legend of the Kimberley’ by Lawson and Janet Holman. Hesperian Press.

False Teeth

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