This world-renowned collection and invaluable research resource, located in Suite 406 of the dental school, consists of more than 1,400 human crania collected by orthodontist Spencer R. Atkinson primarily from autopsies and biological warehouses.
The collection offers an extraordinarily well-preserved, age-graded series of more than 400 crania that span from in utero to adult, representing the most complete assemblage of juveniles in the United States. A number of rare cranial syndromes (hydrocephalaly, microcephaly, cranial dysostoses, cleft palate and others) are found among the individuals.
The IDHCS sells three digital teaching sets that provide examples from the collection of cranial trauma, and congenital and pathological conditions of the skull and dentition. Professionals and advanced students are encouraged to submit research applications to study the collection.
