George Washington, self-conscious about his appearance due to tooth loss, had these dentures made by dentist John Greenwood during his presidency when he found himself with no teeth remaining. These dentures, which were painful to wear, yet necessary for maintaining his look, were crafted in part from human teeth and likely sourced from impoverished individuals, including enslaved people. Washington's financial records indicate he paid for nine teeth from unidentified “Negroes” in May 1784, likely for his dentures or transplantation, with transactions recorded by his plantation manager and in his ledger.

At the time, a majority of teeth were sourced from those who died in battle or from animals and ivory. The transaction and this object, made about 10 years later, highlight the exploitative practices in 18th-century dentistry and the desperate circumstances of the enslaved and poor.