Edmonton's Kirsten Zuk may be the first artist to make a sculpture of John Lennon that contains a chunk of the rock icon's molar. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

EDMONTON - All you need is love — and a chunk of John Lennon’s tooth – to raise money for a children’s charity.

That’s according to Alberta dentist Dr. Michael Zuk — who bought Lennon’s tooth for more than $32,000 at a Stockport, England auction in November — and his artisticially-inclined sister, Kirsten Zuk.

The doc’s sister used a very small piece of the molar when she made a clay sculpture of the rock icon.

“I love John Lennon — I’ve been a huge fan all my life,” said Kirsten Zuk.

The artist says the dentist came up with the idea to take a chip of the tooth and turn it into a piece of art after he purchased it.

“This is like a time-capsule. It will contain his DNA,” said the sister, who lives here.

The sculpture will be on display during the city’s Fringe Festival. She hopes the sculpture will raise awareness and donations for a children’s charity called Smile Train.

It helps children who live in poverty get free access to cleft surgery.

The late Beatle’s molar, which Lennon had given to his housekeeper Dot Jarlett in the late 1960s, eventually came into the possession of Alan McGee, who co-founded Creation Records. McGee sold the tooth, along with other rock memorabilia, via Omega Auctions, BBC says.

Dr. Zuk, who published a book titled Confessions of a Former Cosmetic Dentist last year, told the BBC, “Once I heard (the tooth) was up for sale I had to have it.”

jeff.cummings@sunmedia.ca