While revisiting my old Criterion laser disc of Fields' classic shorts recently, I was reminded of a question I've long pondered regarding THE DENTIST and the dreadful canned background music contained within. I would bet dollars to donuts that this wacky score did not appear in the film's original release, mostly on account of its anachronistic style (which seems better suited for an episode of LEAVE IT TO BEAVER), but also owing to the improved fidelity of this music over the other parts of the soundtrack, as well as the absence of similar music in any of the other Fields/Sennet titles.

Do any of my fellow Mobians have any relevant information or thoughts on the subject? Is my assumption that Criterion used the same elements (with the music) for the DVD correct? Does anyone recall seeing this film sans music?

I'm just going from memory here, but I seem to recall that the music score to THE DENTIST was added at a much later date (ie, either the late 80s or early 90s), and that it originally played with no music score at all other than over its opening and closing credits.
I don't have the CC SIX SHORT FILMS collection (though you *have* given me an idea about what I'm going to do with this Amazon gift certificate!), so I'm not sure whether or not their version contains the anachronistic score.