An article published on September 19th in the open access journal PLoS ONE described the recent finding suggesting ancient dentistry. Federico Bernardini and Claudio Tuniz, of the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Italy, led a team of researchers who analyzed a 6,500 year old human mandible found in Slovenia near Trieste. One tooth in the mandible showed signs of a crown with a beeswax filling.
After a series of tests, the scientists concluded that the tooth was worn which exposed areas of dentin (the second layer of the tooth after the enamel). This wearing of the tooth was probably due to non-alimentary activities such as weaving which tended to be done by Neolithic females. These women used their teeth to cut or hold thread when weaving. This activity bore a vertical crack in the enamel and dentin.
The filling was completed around the time of this individual's death. It is unclear as to whether the beeswax was placed before or after death. If the filling was done before death, it is likely that it was performed as an intervention aimed to relieve tooth sensitivity from the fracture and exposed dentin.
This tooth is the most ancient evidence of prehistoric dentistry in Europe and the earliest known example of a therapeutic dental filling to date.
R. Eric Emery, DDS
2901 Dougherty Ferry Rd, Suite 400
St. Louis, MO 63122
(314)821-7100
Like us on Facebook!
No comments:
Post a Comment