Was President Washington wearing dentures?

President Washington got his first denture at the age of 28 because he had had bad teeth since he was young. His six dentures, including spares, are still left today. At the age of 57 he had only one back tooth in the lower left and the last one was extracted when he was 64 years old. Painter G. Stuart drew a portrait of President when he was 67 years old. As he wore a denture whose rear was flipped up by a spring, he clenched his teeth so that his mouth might not open. Washington on the one-dollar bill is based on this portrait so he is screwing his face. His denture was exhibited at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History but it was stolen and melted in 1981. The one on display today is a replica.

Illustration:President Washington’s denture