A pair of late 18th century French dental forceps for molar extractions. The unusual feature is the screw mechanism fixed to the inside of the handles which prevents the forceps closing beyond a given point and avoids fracturing the tooth.

Similar forceps can be seen in the Museum of Swedish Dental Society in Stockholm (Elizabeth Bennion’s “Antiques Dental Instruments” p51) and in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

• From the Phisick collection