ADAQ Museum of Dentistry:
Glenross Expansion Screw

Guess the (*unproven) link between these expansion screws and Star Wars!

In the famous ‘unmasking scene’ of Return of the Jedi (1983), Vader chooses to not let his son die, and betrays the Emperor by throwing him down a reactor shaft to his death. In the process, he is mortally electrocuted. Vader's final request is that Luke remove his mask so he can see his son with his own eyes, which he does. Redeemed, Anakin Skywalker dies.

Luke first removes the helmet-shaped cover, revealing the mask covers Vader’s entire head with complex circuitry.

It is to convey the complexity of the electronics that kept Vader alive and functioning that the dental expansion screw, or a very similar object was used as prop by the costume designers, Fred Hole and Brian Archer.

*This is all according to Star Wars fandom lore; we haven’t been able to confirm with the Lucasfilm archivist – yet!

Star Wars tragics, that’s your new excuse to watch ROTJ one more time…”

More from the ADAQ Museum of Dentistry