"The gold ligature was found in the East Kirk of St. Nicholas Kirk in Aberdeen, discovered during a 2006 salvage excavation that unearthed the remains of around 900 people and tons more disarticulated bones."
"The mandible contained nine teeth still in situ, and the wear on the teeth indicates the individual was middle-aged with significant tooth decay, including large cavities destroying more than 50% of three crowns."
"A fine gold wire was wound around his right lateral incisor and his left central incisor, bridging the gap where the missing right central incisor had been, held in place by a tight knot."
"The shape of the wire drawn across the gap indicates it was tied there after the tooth was lost, likely intended as an anchor to prevent the loss of the right lateral incisor or as a bridge for a prosthetic tooth."
A gold thread bridge discovered on a male skull from 1460 to 1670 represents the oldest known restorative dentistry in Scotland. Found in Aberdeen's St. Nicholas Kirk, the ligature was part of a mandible with nine teeth, indicating significant decay. The gold wire, made of 20 carat gold, was used to bridge a gap from a missing tooth. Analysis shows it was likely in place for an extended period, suggesting early attempts at dental restoration long before professional dentistry emerged in the 19th century.
Read at www.thehistoryblog.com
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