Dentistry in the Neolithic

The Times 6 April reported a collection of drilled teeth Pakistan (Mehrgarh, in Baluchistan province) dating to the seventh millennium BC. The dentists used flint-tipped bow-drills for the removal of tooth decay.


‘In all cases,drilling was performed on a living person as they continued to chew on the tooth surfaces after dental work. according to Roberto Macchiarelli, of the University of Poitiers in France.


No fillings survived, without something to plug the holes it would be very painful.

Reported in Salon-IFA

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