Chicago’s ‘Dentist to the Queen’ The Curious Case of the Gold Cufflinks
Way back in 1959, the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip visited Chicago for 14 hours — and during that small window, the queen went to the dentist. Apparently, Queen Elizabeth had lost a filling in one of her back teeth and needed a dentist to replace it between royal sightseeing stops at places like the Museum of Science and Industry. She chose Dr. Norman Olson, a dentist who practiced out of the nearby Drake hotel. Why Dr. Olson? Talking about the incident years later, Dr. Olson’s daughter told the Chicago Tribune that he was likely selected thanks to his reputation and location. “It was a very secure hotel,” she said. “I’m sure it was easy for the Secret Service and everybody else to guard the place, and in my opinion, my dad was the best dentist in Chicago.” 15 Minutes for a Lifetime of Fame It’s funny to think of a queen in the dental chair, but the way Queen Elizabeth paid for her procedure is even more curious. Reportedly, Dr. Olson declined to charge her for the 15-minute filling fix — so she gifted him a pair of gold-enameled cufflinks for his trouble. The cufflinks were decorated with crowns and the letters “ER” for “Elizabeth Regina.”
From then on, Dr. Olson was nationally known as “The Queen’s Dentist.” According to the Tribune, he never accepted requests for TV interviews about his experience with the queen. But cards addressed to “The Queen’s Dentist” continued to appear in his mailbox long after her visit. The Making of a Royal Smile In truth, Queen Elizabeth likely had a team of dentists at her beck and call over the years. Fun fact: Even though she passed away at age 96, the queen did not wear dentures. She had all of her own teeth!
Queen Elizabeth’s exact dental upkeep appears to be a national secret, but Matthew Rose, an implant surgeon and restorative dentist with The Implant Center, told Express the queen likely invested in cosmetic dentistry like crowns and veneers to keep her smile white. According to The Mirror, the queen herself credited her smile to the fact that she once wore braces.
When it comes to the need for dental work, it turns out the royals are just like the rest of us!
THE BEST TEETHING TOYS FOR YOUR BABY
3 Dentist-Approved Options
(and spare your hearing) by purchasing a teething toy. Biting down on a teething toy can help relieve the pain of growing teeth as long as the toy is made from safe materials and won’t cause a choking hazard. Here are a few dentist-approved options to consider that range from $4–$30 on Amazon. The Nuby Teething Mitten — Teething babies love to chew on their fingers, and this teething mitten will help them fulfill that urge without sucking on germs. The mitten has a textured silicone surface perfect for relieving teething pain. It’s also machine-washable and comes with a travel bag to keep it clean. The ‘Sophie la Girafe’ Teething Toy — This fun, giraffe-shaped teething toy is perfect for babies of all ages. It includes a squeaker to hold the baby’s attention and parts of various thicknesses for easy chewing. Most importantly, it’s made from safe, natural rubber and food-grade paint. Learn more at SophieTheGiraffe-USA.com. The Green Sprouts Cooling Teether — This classic ring-shaped teether for babies 6 months or older includes beads of multiple textures for the best sensory experience. The teether is also refrigerator- and freezer-safe, so you can cool it down before giving it to your baby to provide even more pain relief.
Teething puppies are pretty adorable — until they sink their little needle teeth into your arm. It’s the same situation with teething babies. They’re sweet, cute, and cuddly at first. Then, the pain strikes, and they start screaming. As a parent, this can be as tough on your emotions as it is on your eardrums. First, you need to work through the panicky feeling that something is wrong with your baby. Then, your heart will probably sink when you spot the signs that appear in most little ones around six months — inflamed gums, flushed cheeks, a mild fever, poor sleep, increased drooling, facial rashes, and the compulsion to chew on your/their fingers.
None of this is fun, but fortunately, once you realize your baby is teething, the worst is over. You can turn back the tide of your little one’s crankiness
With the help of these toys, you and your little one will be resting peacefully before you know it.
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