Midwest was established in 1927, when founder Martin Staunt began by repairing dental handpieces, later expanding into manufacturing and air turbine technology. The dental clinic at the Diefenbunker is part of the health centre located on the top floor of the facility. The health centre’s surgical room had an air compressor that allowed for the use of pneumatic instruments. The facility, described in the 1980 Emergency Preparedness Canada Manual for the Diefenbunker, which was a restricted document for many years, was ready to meet both medical and dental needs in a crisis. It reads, for example, “The Health Centre is located in Room 402A and is equipped with basic medical and dental facilities. Persons requiring special medication must make arrangements to bring a two-week supply.” You can explore the dental office in person—or take a peek online with a virtual tour: diefenbunker.ca/virtual-tour The Department of National Defence planned for only five people to serve on its medical team in the event of a surprise nuclear attack: a medical officer, a nurse and three medical assistants. Today, the Diefenbunker operates as Canada’s Cold War Museum, offering visitors an immersive experience of a tense period in Canada’s history. Most of the objects in the dental clinic aren’t original to the Diefenbunker, but each one was curated to reflect what would have been used at the time. The Diefenbunker’s dental clinic includes a mid-20th-century dental chair and powered instruments. 21 Issue 1 | 2026 | Issues and People
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