17 Photos of Old Dentist Offices That Will Give You the Heebie-Jeebies

Written by Alina Wang on
Five men in old-fashioned clothing sit and interact outside a wooden building; two share a humorous moment as one man tries to feed or give something to another, while the others watch or sit nearby.

From non-existent pain meds to dusty tools that looked straight out of a horror movie, going to the dentist back in the day was not for the faint of heart. Forget modern comforts like numbing gel, free snacks, or spa music in the background; this was all about pain, patience, and pliers. Novocaine? You were lucky if they handed you a stiff drink to take the edge off before they yanked your tooth out.

These vintage photos of old-school dentist offices — with their cracked leather chairs bolted to the floor and ominous trays of unsterilized tools and blood-stained aprons — are sure to send a chill down your spine.

1. A Dentist Makes an Extraction While Working at a Clinic Operated by the Taos County Health Association in Questa, New Mexico, 1943

A man examines a seated patient's mouth while a woman assists, both focused on the patient. Medical tools and supplies are nearby. A poster about healthy foods hangs on the wall; a window shows mountains outside.
UserDeleted/Reddit.com

2. A ‘Fully-Furnished’ Dentist’s Office That’s Been Abandoned Since the 1970s

An old, abandoned dental clinic with a rusty dental chair, outdated equipment, peeling paint, and debris scattered on the floor. Light enters through a window with partially closed blinds, creating a neglected atmosphere.
BWT_Urbex/Reddit.com

3. Another Abandoned Dentist’s Office

An old-fashioned dental office with a vintage dentist chair, attached overhead lamp, and retro dental equipment, set against green tiled walls and a pink door with glass panels. The room appears worn and unused.
time-capsule1/Reddit.com

4. ‘My Grandfather, a Small Town Dentist in Nebraska in the 1920’s’

A black-and-white photo of a dentist treating a patient in an old-fashioned dental office. The dentist stands beside a reclining chair, surrounded by vintage equipment and furniture.
TGMcGonigle/Reddit.com

5. Welcome to the ‘Good Ol’ Days’ — Where the Only Thing Scarier Than the Tools Was the Wallpaper

An old, abandoned dentist's office with a worn dentist chair, a sink, outdated dental equipment, peeling paint on the walls, cluttered surfaces, and debris scattered on a patterned tile floor.
Arkh0ss/Reddit.com

6. ‘Class Visit to the Dentist, Denmark 1956’

A black-and-white photo of a boy sitting in a vintage dental chair with his mouth open as a dentist and nurse examine him. Four curious children stand nearby, watching the dental procedure closely.
epic35/Reddit.com

7. ‘A Visit to the Dentist, 1892’

A vintage black and white photo shows a barber shaving a seated man's face while a boy playfully pulls the man's head back with a towel, inside an old-fashioned barbershop with posters on the wall.
Systepup/Reddit.com

8. When the Only Form of Anesthesia Was Sheer Terror, Early 1800s

A vintage black-and-white photo shows a man pulling another man's tooth with pliers in a small room. The patient is restrained in a chair, with a sign on the wall reading, "Teeth Pulled While You Wait.
MsStormyTrump/Reddit.com

9. ‘Just Another Day at the Dentist, 1920s’

A vintage black-and-white photo shows a dentist extracting a man's tooth outdoors, while another man restrains the patient, and a third person crouches below, grimacing. Dental equipment is visible, and trees are in the background.
UserDeleted/Reddit.com

10. ‘My Grandpa (Born 1888) and His Brother, the Dentist, in Colorado, Early 1910s’

A vintage black-and-white photo of a dentist examining a patient’s mouth. The dentist uses dental tools while the patient sits back in a chair. Ornate wallpaper and a framed picture decorate the background.
Rspacehoffa/Reddit.com

11. A Dentist’s Office in Nice, France, Circa 1920s

A black-and-white photo shows a man reclining in a vintage dental chair, receiving dental treatment from a dentist, with a nurse standing nearby holding supplies. The room has large windows and classic decor.
unorthodox_kungfu/Reddit.com

12. Because Nothing Calms a Patient Like Getting a Root Canal in a Room Full of Creepy Wall Murals, St. Louis, Early 1900s

Doctors and nurses in surgical gowns stand around a patient on an operating table in a room decorated with whimsical animal murals. A nurse stands in the background near ornate walls and a balcony.
AxlCobainVedder/Reddit.com

13. Captain Earle Yeamans of the First Infantry Division Treats a Soldier’s Teeth During the Vietnam War, October 1968

Two soldiers give a field shave and haircut to another seated soldier outdoors, using basic equipment. Other soldiers sit and watch in the background on a grassy area under clear skies.
ibkeepr/Reddit.com

14. Have a Seat — If You Dare

An abandoned dental clinic with a worn dentist chair, overhead light, scattered debris, and peeling paint. The room appears neglected and in disrepair.
Abandoned_Dallas/Reddit.com

15. Interior of S.B. Johnston’s Dentist Office in Washington, D.C., Circa 1919

Black and white photo of a vintage dentist’s office, featuring an old dental chair with metal fixtures, equipment on shelves, and a window displaying “Dr. S. B. Johnston, Dentist, Crown & Bridge Work Specialty.”
UserDeleted/Reddit.com

16. Dentist Dr. Morris Schneidermann Works on 4-Year-Old James Monroe at an East Side Settlement House in New York, Circa 1950s

A dentist treats a young boy in an old-fashioned dental clinic, with the boy reclining in a chair and various dental instruments laid out on nearby trays.
European Picture Service/FPG/Archive Photos/Getty Images

17. Dr. Krasny of New York University’s Children’s Dental Clinic Demonstrates a Procedure on a 10-Year-Old Child, 1927

A group of men in white coats observe a dental procedure being performed on a seated patient in an old-fashioned dental clinic or classroom. One man examines the patient while others watch attentively and take notes.
Underwood Archives/Getty Images

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