Increasingly, dental equipment combined comfort for the patient with convenience for the dentist. For the first time, lights, instrument tray, spittoon, and drill were combined into one unit. The importance of a germ-free environment was reflected in the dentist’s white coat, the instrument sterilizer, and nonporous surfaces. By 1920, the X-ray machine was essential equipment. The ability to see underlying tooth structure took much of the guesswork out of dental diagnosis. Learn about artifacts on display below…