15. Tooth Key
The tooth key was a notorious dental instrument used from the 18th century to extract troublesome teeth. Shaped like a door key, it was twisted around the tooth to yank it out—a process that was often as agonizing as it sounds. While effective, it caused considerable pain and sometimes damaged surrounding gums or teeth. Thankfully, modern dental forceps have replaced the tooth key, making tooth extraction a much safer and less traumatic experience for patients today.
