LONDON.- The Dentist, by renowned portrait artist, Sir John Lavery, has been purchased by the British Dental Association’s (BDA) Museum, the UK’s only museum dedicated exclusively to dentistry. Painted in 1929, it features dentist Conrad Ackner in situ treating his patient, the artist’s wife, Lady Lavery. The work is considered to be significant both in dental and art history terms, being the only known accurate depiction of the early twentieth century dentist in a surgery, and by one of the leading portrait painters of the time. The painting is set in Ackner’s Welbeck Street practice in London and reveals aspects of the clinical environment including an early x-ray machine and headlamp, examples of which are already held by the BDA Museum. An appeal for help in raising the £60,000 required for the purchase saw donations flood in from individuals and BDA branches whilst both the MLA/V&A Purchase Grant