Southern Appalachian Digital Collections
James Madison Zachary House in Norton, North Carolina
This undated photograph shows James Madison Zachary’s house, built in 1885 and located in the Norton community of Jackson County. James Madison Zachary (1842-1898) practiced dentistry after the Civil War in the 1860s and is believed to be the first itinerant dentist in Jackson County. His second daughter, Dr. Daisy Zachary McGuire (1880-1980), who grew up in this home, became the first licensed female dentist in North Carolina when she graduated in 1908 from Southern Dental College in Atlanta. She was the oldest practicing dentist in the nation when she retired in 1977 at the age of 97.
There are many modern technologies that I’m thankful for on a daily basis. Electricity and indoor plumbing come to mind. I’m also thankful for the tools my dentist uses.
I had to have a crown replaced yesterday. I was dreading it something awful, but as usual Dr. Thompson made the whole process easy with his calming manner, his knowledge of dentistry, and all the handy dandy tools he uses.
The decay under the edge of my crown showed up in my last x-ray. I had no pain. Many years ago I had a bad toothache and it was miserable!
If my toothache had occurred in the old days I would have went to a tooth jumper (often the local blacksmith) to get my aching tooth pulled.
tooth jumper, tooth puller noun An untrained dentist who uses a hammer and a nail to extract or cause a tooth to jump out. Cf tooth dentist.
1961 Seeman Arms of Mt 35 Imagine going to a mountain “tooth-jumper,” who armed with hammer and nail and kept a pair of home-forged pliers handy! 1972 Cooper NC Mt Folklore 15 The tooth-puller and the tooth-jumper were known as Tooth Doctors.
Dictionary of Smoky Mountain English
Jumping the tooth involved placing a chisel or other metal object at the base of the hurting tooth, just under the gum line. While holding the chisel in place the tooth jumper took a hammer and gave it a good hard tap. If it was a successful tap, the tooth jumped out of it’s hole.
Here’s an excerpt on tooth jumping from These Storied Mountains written by John Parris.
But them that really knowed how to tooth-jump could pop a tooth out of a feller’s head before you could wink an eye. It was just that quick. It had to be. If one lick didn’t jump the tooth out it was all-night-ice-’em. For if the tooth didn’t come out with that first lick a feller just went plumb crazy and had to be hog tied till the job was finished.
Even reading about tooth jumping is unnerving! I’ll say it again: I’m thankful for my modern day dentist and the tools he uses.
Last night’s video: It Took Us 30 Years But We Now Have A Shed & We LOVE It!
Tipper
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In the Museum of Appalachia at Norris, Tn is a dentist tool about 3-4” long shaped like a T with the top as a handle and on the bottom is a metal U-shaped hook attached to one side. As it was explained to me, the dentist put the handle (top of the T) between his fingers, hooked the U-shaped piece over the tooth and gave it a twist. I can’t imagine that would be mush better than the tooth jumping! As a child in the 50’s I had bad, painful experiences. My brother has missing teeth now because as I understand, not only could he bear to take his children to the dentist, but still can’t go himself. I was fortunate to have moved around and experienced young dentists who calmed my fears. I am now having patches on top of patches with lots of fillings, crowns, a bridge, etc and sometimes the little fillings don’t take 10 min and don’t have to be numbed. On one of those times I got there 15-20 min early and was out the door before my appointment was scheduled. We do have some insurance but it’s not great. Several years ago after having major work done my husband said the next time he got married he was going to check her teeth out like people do horses! I replied that maybe he had so much invested he would keep me and he did for 48 yrs. I am certainly thankful for modern dentistry.
Hi Tipper,
Glad you had your tooth repaired. Charles and I are grateful for our dentists too. My parents were lucky and both had their teeth capped and didnot have to have dentures. Charles parents were not so lucky and had to have dentures. Dental work is expensive but think of its alternative– no teeth and the pain our family members had to endure to get them? We are very blessed to have dental insurance and a dentist that accepts payments. Just as you are thankful for all your dentists tools and equipment we are too. A smile is worth a million dollars!! Kathy Patterson
Oh my, this was painful to read! My mother in law had to have some bridge work last year. It’s been a nightmare for her. They pulled a couple of teeth and broke her jaw. They denied it. She had some bone fragments coming out and they told her that was normal. She got an infection and became delirious. We kept telling her this was serious and she must see someone else. When they finally got her into a specialist the specialist said she had pulled some of her jawbone out and the infection was bad enough to kill her. She needs to have surgery now. This has been awful for her. This was done by one of the top dental surgeons in Indianapolis. I’m scared of the dentist. I know it’s crazy, but it’s true.
Wow!! That makes me even more thankful for a dentist !! I went last week for a filling . I haven’t had a filling in many years !
I was in an auto accident in 2002. I was hit in the face by the air bag. It saved me but it cracked every tooth. The dentist said to leave them and deal with them as they shatter or cause pain. So far, I have had 4 molars pulled and have another that shattered the back side. I’m trying to find a dentist because mine retired. It has been 6 months looking so far. Either they don’t take my insurance or don’t do the work I need. The insurance company is sending me an updated list of dentists in a 50-mile radius. My dentist was a tiny little guy and very nice. Oe time he stood on the exam chair and got better leverage to pull the tooth. He always had to cut the teeth to separate the roots and pull each section at a time. He said I had the longest roots he had ever seen. I don’t mind the cutting and pulling. I do not like the numbing needle.
Miss Tipper, What a way to get a tooth extracted. Oh my goodness, I’d probably loose my mind over such a horrible treatment. I’m not much on getting dental work done. Thus, why my teeth are so bad. I desperately need work done to them as we speak. I have always had a problem getting to the dentist after a terrible experience as a child. I’m now an old woman of 79, but still have a great aversion to dental care. Enjoyed this blog though. If you can say a prayer for me, to see a dentist, to get these teeth taken care of, it would be much appreciated. Also that it won’t break my bank account. I wish I’d had hindsight to get dental insurance long ago. It is so expensive these days. Another reason for neglecting dental care. Have a good weekend everyone and may God bless everyone and answer all the prayer request for your family, health issues, loss and all other reasons. Have a Happy St. Pat’s Day next week. J
It was summer here last night when I went to bed. When I woke up this morning winter had come back. 80s to 40s! Lot of wind too.
Ammons, I am a day behind you, I slept without covers on me last night, tonight the low 30’s, next week two nights in the 20’s. I covered my grandmother’s peony in case of frost tonight but there won’t be any if the wind keeps blowing. That peony will give kudzu a run for its money last week it was not more than 2-3 inches high, today it is closer 10- 12 inches high.
I cringed the whole way through reading about the teeth. Anything dental is really miserable to me, partly because of the TMJ, small mouth but big teeth, then cram a bunch of instruments in there…shudder. Nexttime I force myself togo, I’ll remember this post!
Oh my! Your post makes me very grateful for modern dentistry.
Glad your dental visit is done and went well. I have never heard “tooth jumper!” So interesting. Knew that it was a sideline of some blacksmiths in the mountains. Dental phobia for sure.
Going to the dentist is not on my list of favorite things to do , but , when you consider the alternative, I’m also thankful that I have a good dentist & for modern technology!
pulling teeth is expensive, I’m trying to make a deal with affordable dentures now, they gave me some antibiotics, nemade some impressions, but I can’t afford, the dentures, they want about $4,000 all the way around, but I do want to get my teeth pulled, God help God help
Some 30 or so years ago I had a crown to come off while I was crunching on some ice. I called the dentist’s office and told them I had lost a crown. The receptionist said, “Uh-oh.” I said, ” that term should not be in your vocabulary considering where you work.”
I worked for a dentist for 20 years. At first, I was his chairside assistant, then I moved to the front office and on to office manager. I too am grateful for anesthetic. It made our job easier. I’ve never heard the story of the McGuires. I wonder how steady her hands were by the time the daughter retired.
Oh my, Tipper – this sounds like something out of a horror tale! I too, am glad I live in today’s modern dental technology.
In the past month, I’ve had 2 crowns, a root canal, and 6 months cleaning. My old fillings are falling apart. I hope I don’t have any more dental visits until my 6 months cleaning in August.
I have never had a problem with going to the dentist no matter what needed to be done, until I got a root canal. That changed everything.
In the Letters To Lori book, Opal wrote about how she was suspicious that her daddy died from a tooth infection after the pain caused him to pull his own tooth. I said a silent prayer and thanked the Lord for modern-day dentistry.
In my coming up years the practice of “tooth jumping” was also known as “tooth bumping”.
James Madison Zachary is in my family tree as well as his daughter Daisy McGuire and his granddaughter Patsy. All were dentists as were several more of his descendants around Western North Carolina. Daisy’s husband Wayne Patrick McGuire was also a dentist.
Scary! Hope you are feeling well.
Tipper, your photography, by itself, makes Blind Pig and the Acorn a continual pleasure.
I’ve never heard of tooth jumping, but it helps to understand why dental work typically came with such negative feelings in years past.
Tipper, because I am a regular reader of your blog and watcher of your channel, as crazy as it sounds, I refer to you on a first name basis around my house. -“Tipper planted crocuses last fall, too.” or whatnot.
Your cookbook is sitting on a stand on my countertop at home, both because I use it and because it makes me think of my Mawmaw.
Anyway, my husband and I were visiting Asheville and went into the Mast General Store downtown and out of nowhere I saw your cookbook on the shelf! I exclaimed, “Oh my! Look! Tipper’s book is here!” I felt so excited and proud!! I went into another bookstore there and looked for your book, but they didn’t carry it. I felt their Appalachian Cooking section was seriously lacking. 😉 This may be a silly question, but did you know Mast carries it?
Tara, I did know they carried it 🙂 I’m so glad you enjoy the cookbook and that it reminds you of your Mawmaw!! Thank you!!
My husband is the only dentist that I have gone to since 1984. He will retire soon and I’ll have to find a new dentist. Having a dentist you are comfortable with is priceless
I had to laugh at “L” who’s going to share tooth jumping stories of olden days with the kiddos as they go to the dentist today! They’ll definitely have to “kid up” (like cowboy up or man up or woman up) and go after hearing of a chisel and hammer and tooth extraction. It makes me “glad” myself there ain’t a hammer and chisel waiting on me at the dentists office! Yikes! Tipper, I pray your fixed crown and dental carie are not hurting in the least and you’re skipping around like a young calf let out of the stall this morning!!! If there’s one thing that’s important to me on my face it’s the GRILL!!! It has to be the star attraction of the face with pearly whites gleaming! It’s a must as far I am concerned. Btw, I use NOBS tooth tablets with xylitol and no fluoride to give you the “fluoride stare” and xylitol will stop sore throats too. Consider flouride for it used to be a pesticide…. Believe it or not. As a human biologist, I’m BS resistant cause I know what I know. Have a good and enjoy this cold day yall. It’s snowing like a BANSHEE at the VA/TN/ NC border area flying east to west oddly enough… btw, cold air makes my teeth and ears ache at times… old age and cold ain’t for punks and sissies!!
If my memory serves, you posted about mountain dentistry some time ago also, (but different from this one). I think I commented that Appalachian geology and soils are low in the base minerals that build strong bones and teeth. A primary one is calcium which is in limestone water. I grew up on the Cumberland Plateau where the geology – from top down – is sandstone, shale, coal then shale again. It does not help make great teeth. I probably also told the story of Dad pulling our baby teeth with wire pliers. In comparison the three I have had pulled by a dentist were easy. Seems the trick is just to put them in a strain for awhile first and give them some time then gradually increase it. Don’t recall it ever hurting.
tooth jumper sounds very painful
Next week I’ll be seeing an oral surgeon for some bridge repair. I’ve had the bridge since the late 70’s and I’m sure I’ll end up with a crown. I’m glad I’m not going to a tooth jumper!! Like Tipper, I’m thankful for modern technology
Tooth-jumping conjures up ghastly images!!! I’ll have to ask my dentist if he’s ever heard of it.
Enjoyed reading this. Anxiety at the dentist was never a problem. However, They did give me a anti anxiety pill before removing 4 wisdom teeth so I could get braces. I was 26 when I got braces as my parents could not afford them so I paid for them after I got a job and saved for them. I was awake and numbed up. Such cracking and yanking I’ll never forget! But the worst of it was that stupid pill! It made me feel loopy! I’ll never take another one!
I think the best description I ever read of tooth-jumping was in Horace Kephart’s book, something along the lines of the dentist could get the tooth out at one blow and “if he didn’t, you might as well stick your head in a swarm of bees and forget who you are.”
Oh my goodness, tooth-jumping sounds horrifying! I hope your new crown lasts the rest of your days, Tipper.
I grew up in a house that looks somewhat like the one pictured above. It had belonged to a dentist, Dr Britton and his practice was located in the house. It didn’t have an indoor toilet (my father built the bathroom before we could move in) but it had running water and there was a sink in the room where my little sister and me stayed, with lots of cabinets. We found old microscope slides in the window box, which featured odd things like monkey ovaries. Whenever my father plowed the garden, we’d find molars and other human teeth that had just been tossed over the fence by the dentist over the years.
My hubby had to have a root canal recently. He said he didn’t really feel a thing. I know he was thankful for modern dentistry.
That’s a new one for me. I sure am glad we don’t use tooth jumpers anymore. When I was 18 I was in an accident that caused me to loose most of my front teeth (steering wheels and mouths should never meet!) resulting in my needing several teeth pulled and dentures made. Thank goodness I was knocked out for the entire procedure. Many times I’ve wished I had my natural teeth back but I sure am thankful for modern dentistry and that I have had teeth to eat and smile with for the past 52 years!
The last time I saw my dentist, I mentioned how thankful I was to have had good dental care my whole life, and I meant it! LOL! I’m even more grateful now, after reading this article. Happy smiles, ya’ll!
I’ve had a lot of experience with dentists over the years. I had TMJD pain shooting up the side of my head from my jaw being out of alignment so I had jaw surgery in 1984 and braces on my teeth for a year and half. The pain went away. I’ve had very few cavities but since being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 2009, the inflammation has caused bone loss and my gums to shrink away from my teeth. I hate the thoughts of dentures but it may come to that.
Reading this reminded me of dental appointments when I was little and believe me the experiences were not fun and bordered on the edge of torture in my opinion. That resulted in years of absolute dread going to the dentist when I was a kid. Thankfully when I was a teenager, my dad found a different dentist to go to and the experience was completely different. Now I do OK when going and in fact today I have an appointment and I’m pretty sure I have a filling that is loose, so that will have to be taken care of. What fun, not really, but at least I won’t feel like I’m being tortured.
Me, too, Tipper. My Great Grandmother used to tell us stories about her going to the dentist and there was no novocaine. All her dental work growing up was done by just holding onto the chair and enduring. I’m so thankful to live in this time when we don’t have to live with that!
My last visit the dentist told me the same thing about one of my crowns, but dont know that i will spend the $$$ to replace it..my insurance wont pay for a crown unless the tooth is cracked in half….i have quite a few missing teeth in my old age,what is one more going to matter if it comes out since its in the back…i have horrible dental phobia because my first memory is a dentist putting a crown on and dropping it down my throat, i choked and choked, then swallowed it….still affects me to this day.
Kelly, I am exactly like you with missing my jaw teeth, right now something is going on with a back jaw tooth, I think I may have cracked it by biting down on a cherry seed in some pie filling. After retirement, I no longer have dental insurance so I will have it pulled if it becomes necessary, missing one more one more won’t amount to a hill of beans.
Perfect timing. My kiddos have a dentist appointment tomorrow that they do not look forward. I’ll have to read this to them and remind them how good we have it these days they sometimes call the dentist “the tooth doctor”
I hope this is not some kind of sign or message for me his morning! I have an 8 o’clock dental appointment this morning for my 6 months cleaning. I had rather go to the dentist than the doctor. I hate needles and very seldom let the dentist give me a shot.
Everything came out at the dentist fine and dandy just like cotton candy this morning. Lorie the one that cleans my teething is just about as crazy as I am. Can’t help but enjoy her. My wife and Lorie dearly loved one another. She and another lady in the office came to my wife’s visitation.