At the time of the second world war and beyond, into the 1950s and 60s, dental health in Britain was appalling. Oral hygiene measures were not practised by much of the population and attendance at the dentist was usually only for relief of pain. In many cases treatment was limited to extractions and full dentures. Most of the population expected to have full dentures by the time they were 60 and many long before that.

The story of how this changed is herein told in the words of dental professionals recorded as part of the British Dental Association John McLean Archive between 2008 and 2023.

Andrew Sadler is an honorary research fellow of the Unit of Dental History, King's College, London, secretary of the Royal Society of Medicine History of Medicine Society and committee member of the Lindsay Society for the History of Dentistry. He received oral history training at the British Dental Association and Lincoln University. He is a former Consultant Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon.