[daverol]

Many accounts sat the in the UK in the early 20th century dentistry was still so expensive that some people chose to have all their teeth pulled to spare themselves a lifetime of pain. Having all your teeth removed was considered the perfect gift for a 21st birthday or a newly married bride. My mother-in-law had her teeth out under this practice.

The foundation of the NHS in 1948 made dental care affordable for all and in the first nine months four million cavities were filled and queues formed outside surgeries.

see: https://bda.org/museum/exhibitions-and-events/nhs70-celebrat...