Crocodile Dentist (1991)

Crocodile Dentist

Crocodile Dentist is a board game made for young children, first published by Milton Bradley in 1990. The game was designed by Robert B. Fuhrer and was initially released with a pair of pliers to remove the teeth. Later versions of the game required players to press down on the plastic teeth instead of removing them, making the game more accessible to younger children.

Why is Crocodile Dentist Popular?

Crocodile Dentist was one of the best-selling games of the 1991 Christmas season and remained a high-seller afterwards. The game’s popularity can be attributed to its simple mechanics and the thrill of the crocodile snapping shut on the player who presses the “sore tooth”. The game has also become a classic and has been referenced in popular culture, such as a blooper on an episode of The Price Is Right.

Game Components of Crocodile Dentist

Plastic crocodile toy with a mouth full of teethTooth tongs (earlier versions of the game included a pair of pliers)

Game Setup of Crocodile Dentist

No assembly is required, and no batteries are needed to play the game.

Gameplay Mechanics of Crocodile Dentist

The game is played by pressing down on the plastic teeth from the crocodile toy’s mouth. If the “sore tooth” is pressed, the mouth will snap shut and lunge toward the player who caused the mouth to shut, and that player loses.

Game Objective of Crocodile Dentist

The goal of the game is to avoid pressing the “sore tooth” and causing the crocodile’s mouth to snap shut.

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