Researchers find evidence prehistoric man invented dental drills
Researchers have found evidence that dental drilling dates back 9,000 years, proving dentistry might very well be the world's oldest, legitimate profession.
Researchers carbon-dated nine skulls unearthed in a Pakistan graveyard, which show prehistoric dentists drilled nearly perfect holes into living patients between 5500 BC and 7000 BC, according to an article in Nature.
These new findings mean that dentistry is at least 4,000 years older than originally thought. The drilled teeth were hard-to-reach molars and the holes went as deep as 3.5 millimetres.
When one of the researchers showed the pictures to his dentist, he was amazed by the precision of the holes.
Because of the hard-to-see locations of the drilled teeth, researchers believe that the drilling was unlikely to have been for decorative purposes. However, some historians believe that the drilling could have been as much for releasing evil spirits as for treating tooth decay.
Researchers found flint drill tips at the site and believe that a small bow was used to drive the drill tips into patients' teeth.
Researchers carbon-dated nine skulls unearthed in a Pakistan graveyard, which show prehistoric dentists drilled nearly perfect holes into living patients between 5500 BC and 7000 BC, according to an article in Nature.
These new findings mean that dentistry is at least 4,000 years older than originally thought. The drilled teeth were hard-to-reach molars and the holes went as deep as 3.5 millimetres.
When one of the researchers showed the pictures to his dentist, he was amazed by the precision of the holes.
Because of the hard-to-see locations of the drilled teeth, researchers believe that the drilling was unlikely to have been for decorative purposes. However, some historians believe that the drilling could have been as much for releasing evil spirits as for treating tooth decay.
Researchers found flint drill tips at the site and believe that a small bow was used to drive the drill tips into patients' teeth.
