A new analysis of teeth from the Viking Age, dating back nearly 1,000 years, has provided fascinating insights into dentistry at the time, which may have been more advanced than previously thought.
Researchers from the University of Gothenburg and the Västergötlands Museum in Sweden examined a total of 3,293 teeth from 171 Norse raiders, including children and adults.
Modern dental evaluations are carried out on teeth, including the use of X-ray scans and dental probes, and it turns out these Scandinavians didn’t just let their teeth rot and get cavities. .
![dental scan](https://www.sciencealert.com/images/2023/12/XrayScan.jpg)
Karolina Bertilsson, a dentist at the University of Gothenburg, said: “There were some signs that the Vikings had modified their teeth, including the use of toothpicks and filing of the front teeth, as well as evidence of dental work on infected teeth.” “It was,” he says.
The tooth dates from the 10th to 12th centuries AD and was collected from the famous Varnhem excavation site in Sweden. This site is known for its soil conditions, which are suitable for preserving remains such as bones and teeth.
Of the adult teeth analyzed, 13% were found to be affected by caries or caries, often on the root surface. Teeth loss is common, with adults losing an average of 6% of their teeth, excluding wisdom teeth.
However, the teeth taken from children under the age of 12 showed no signs of cavities.
![viking filing](https://www.sciencealert.com/images/2023/12/VikingFilling.jpg)
Notably, there was also evidence of dental work, including attempts to fill the holes created by molars. This was probably to relieve toothaches resulting from infections.
“This is very exciting to see and is no different than the dental work we do today by drilling holes into infected teeth,” says Bertilsson.
“The Vikings seem to have had knowledge about teeth, but we don’t know if they performed these procedures themselves or if they had help.”
Researchers believe that one individual’s front teeth may have been intentionally filed down to identify the individual for some reason. That’s something we’ve seen in other studies as well.
Because teeth are made of a durable material, they are likely to be preserved in soil, providing interesting clues about ancient people.
Another notable finding is that by the age of 40, tooth loss has become a much bigger problem for the Varnem Vikings than tooth decay, even with toothpicks and rudimentary treatments. That’s what happened.
“This study provides new insights into Viking oral health and shows that teeth were important in the Viking culture of Varnem,” says Bertilsson.
“It also suggests that Viking Age dentistry was probably more sophisticated than previously thought.”
This study Pro Swan.