Sharing smiles through cartoons, dental artwork

Published: October 19, 2020 by Bradi Zapata

The first piece that the Oelfkes collected was created by well-known Warner Bros. animator Chuck Jones. It portrayed Bugs Bunny as a dentist, treating Daffy Duck. Photo courtesy of Gregory Oelfke, DDS '77.

A fine art giclee of Bugs Bunny saying "Brush Up Doc" is displayed on the second floor of UTSD, near the north entrance to the main predoctoral and dental hygiene clinics. Photo by Kyle Rogers.

Over 30 years ago, an intricate illustration of Bugs Bunny as a dentist treating Daffy Duck for a toothache was unwrapped beside a colorfully lit Christmas tree in the home of Claudia and Gregory Oelfke, DDS ‘77. This dental artwork, created by widely known Warner Bros. animator Chuck Jones, sparked a collection that would bring joy and tranquility to many patients, students, and dentists for years to come.

In early 2020, the Oelfkes donated part of their collection to UTHealth School of Dentistry at Houston, including:

• A fine art giclee of Bugs Bunny saying “Brush up Doc;”
• A limited edition signed print by Kirk Mueller of Acme Corporation’s cartoon characters waiting at the Desert Dental Pit Stop;
• A set of four limited-edition, hand-painted cell illustrations of Looney Tunes characters at dental offices, by Warner Bros. illustrator Kirk Mueller; and
• A set of four individual, watercolor sketches of Hanna-Barbera Productions characters Dick Dastardly, Jane Jetson, Tom the Cat, and Jerry the Mouse, that were hand drawn by Hanna-Barbera animator Bob Singer.

The 10 original signed artworks are displayed on the second floor of UTSD, near the north entrance to the main predoctoral and dental hygiene clinics.

“I always enjoy giving back to the school, and I was hoping that other individuals, both patients and students, could enjoy the artwork. Hopefully, they do,” Oelfke said.

“It’s funny, because a lot of the younger kids don’t necessarily know who characters like Tom and Jerry or the Jetsons are, but the adults sure do,” he said. “Sometimes, the adults actually enjoy [the cartoon images] more than the children.”

While the illustrations at the school portray general dentistry scenes, a number of animators created works tailored toward oral surgery, radiology, restorative, cosmetic, and orthodontic practices.

“I’ve really enjoyed the collection over the years,” Oelfke said. “The artwork makes me happy when I look at them, and hopefully that’s what they’ll do for other people. Individuals might be having a bad day or may not want to go to the dentist, but when they see the art, it might put a smile on their face and make their day a little bit better.”