How teeth were treated in ancient times: finds, tools and myths

Short answer: what people actually did

In different eras, people tried to cope with toothache in several ways: removing the tooth, cleaning the damaged tissue, applying mixtures and fixing loose teeth. The scope, purpose and safety of these activities varied. An archaeological tooth sometimes shows signs of drilling, enlargement of a cavity or attached material, but the mark itself does not answer all the questions: it is compared with dating, microscopy, tomography and burial context.

One famous example is a Neolithic tooth from Slovenia with beeswax in the area of exposed dentin and cracks. The study authors are careful to note that the material was applied shortly before or after death; if alive, it could reduce sensitivity or pain when chewing. It is precisely this caveat that is important: even a striking find does not allow turning a guess into a confident story about the procedure.

Ancient written sources also describe toothache, extraction and oral care. They are useful as evidence of the beliefs of their era, but are not a substitute for archaeological and clinical evidence. Today, a tooth with a crack, caries or inflammation is assessed face-to-face: the same pain can have different causes and require different solutions.

What is considered evidence in the history of dentistry?

For the historian and archaeologist, not only the unusual shape of the tooth is important. Researchers are checking whether the modification appeared during life, what the edges look like under magnification, whether there are tool marks, what micro-CT shows, and whether natural wear and tear can explain the finding. Dating the remains and analyzing the residual material helps separate the fact from the beautiful but weak version.

In 2026, a peer-reviewed publication described a Neanderthal lower molar from the Chagyrskaya Cave with an intravital artificial cavity. The authors used traceology, microtomography and experimental comparison and interpreted it as a very early example of caries intervention. This is a significant but new study: it expands the picture of early practices rather than proving the existence of "dentistry" in the modern sense.

There are also findings that show intentional alteration of teeth, but no treatment. For example, Vikings' filed teeth may have had social or decorative significance. Therefore, the words “tool”, “drilling” or “tab” cannot be automatically read as medical care: the purpose of the intervention is determined by a combination of signs, and sometimes remains unknown.

From ancient interventions to modern dentistry

History does not develop in one straight line, but several landmarks help to see the scale of change. Archaeological materials indicate very early attempts to mechanically manipulate a painful tooth. Later, written descriptions of toothache, hygiene, removal and fixation of loose teeth appeared in Egypt, Greece and Rome. These records report an accumulation of observations rather than a single standard of care.

The key turning point in modern times is associated not with one instrument, but with a combination of knowledge: anatomy, microbiology, anesthesia, materials science, x-ray diagnostics and aseptic rules. According to the ADA chronology, X-rays were discovered in 1895, and already in 1896 C. Edmond Kells took one of the earliest dental photographs of a living person. This has made the invisible structures of the tooth and jaw more accessible to clinical evaluation.

Modern endodontics, prosthodontics and implantology have also grown out of long-term developments in technology and biomedical research. Today, the choice between saving a tooth, root canal treatment, crown, bridge, removable structure or implantation is not made according to historical example. It depends on the tissues, occlusion, general health, hygiene and goals of the individual.

• Prehistoric finds: isolated signs of treatment of damaged teeth and attempts to close sensitive areas.
• Ancient texts: descriptions of pain, oral care, removal and fixation of teeth.
• XIX–XX centuries: development of anesthesia, asepsis, x-ray diagnostics, materials and professional training.
• Today: The treatment plan combines examination, risk assessment and imaging only when clinically indicated.

Myths and controversial interpretations

The most famous historical myth is the “toothworm.” In ancient texts they explained tooth decay and pain, but modern science attributes tooth decay to the interaction of dental tissue, biofilm, sugars and time, rather than to the worm inside the tooth. The legend helps to understand past ideas about the disease, but does not provide a method of treatment.

Another frequent plot is that ancient implants were the direct predecessors of modern systems. In old skulls, foreign materials are found in the dental area, but their dating and time of installation may be unclear. An object placed after death is not the same as an implant placed in a living bone with the expectation of healing and loading.

Finally, the phrase “previously treated without chemicals means safer” is misleading. The natural origin of a substance does not guarantee sterility, dosage or lack of toxicity. Modern care is also not limited to drugs: it includes prevention, diagnosis and gentle methods chosen for a specific task.

What difference does this story make for the patient today?

The main practical conclusion is simple: toothache is not an independent diagnosis. A tooth decay, crack, pulp inflammation, gum problem, injury, or pain radiating from another area may feel similar. Therefore, searching for an “old recipe” at home delays the assessment of the cause and sometimes complicates subsequent treatment.

During the consultation, the dentist evaluates complaints, teeth, gums, bite and health history. X-ray examination is prescribed when the expected clinical benefit justifies the effect; the ADA specifically emphasizes that a diagnosis and plan cannot be based solely on an image. If necessary, several options are discussed with their terms, restrictions and care - without promising the same result for everyone.

In Yerevan, as in any other city, the safe route begins with an in-person examination, especially if symptoms worsen. Before the visit, do not warm the area, do not open the swelling, do not take other people’s medications, and do not delay help if your health deteriorates significantly.

• Write down when the pain started, what makes it worse, and whether there is a reaction to cold, hot, or biting.
• Tell your doctor about any chronic illnesses, pregnancy, allergies, and any medications you take.
• If the tooth has been injured, store the chipped fragment in a moist environment and seek help as soon as possible.
• Do not consider a temporary reduction in pain as proof that the problem has disappeared: the inflammation may continue without significant sensations.

When you need a doctor without waiting

A routine examination is needed if there is recurring sensitivity, pain when biting, chipped, bleeding gums, an unpleasant odor, or a feeling that the filling or crown has changed. The sooner the cause is understood, the more options usually exist to preserve tissue and choose a less complex intervention.

Seek immediate medical attention for rapidly increasing swelling of the face or neck, fever coupled with toothache, pus, difficulty opening the mouth, swallowing or breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, and severe trauma to the jaw. In these situations, an article, photo and correspondence do not replace a face-to-face assessment.

Historical findings remind us how long people have been trying to relieve toothache. But the advantage of modern dentistry is not “novelty for the sake of novelty,” but the ability to see the problem, anesthetize the intervention, control infection risks and select a restoration based on specific data.