500-year-old gold dental bridge is earliest known oral care of its kind in Scotland – and it likely held a fake tooth

Archaeologists have identified the earliest known instance of restorative dentistry in Scotland. The discovery consists of a 20-karat gold dental bridge found in the lower jaw of a middle-aged man who lived approximately 500 years ago.

The finding was detailed in a study published April 24 in the British Dental Journal. The researchers discovered the dental work while examining skeletal remains from the St. Nicholas East Kirk in Aberdeen, Scotland.

The device, described as a ligature, is a thin gold wire fixed across the lower incisors of the mandible. Specifically, the wire linked the right lateral incisor to the left central incisor to span the gap where a tooth had been lost during the individual’s life.

Researchers believe the gold wire served one of two primary functions: it may have been used to hold a loose tooth in place, or it could have formed a bridge structure designed to hold a replacement fake tooth.

Radiocarbon dating indicates the man died between 1460 and 1670. The remains were part of a larger excavation at the St. Nicholas East Kirk, a church likely built in the 11th century and used until the Protestant Reformation in the late 16th century. Excavations conducted in 2006 at the site uncovered thousands of human bones and approximately 900 burials.

While the gold bridge suggests an attempt at restorative care, the man’s overall oral health was poor. Analysis of the jawbone revealed that he had hardened plaque on all of his teeth, cavities on three teeth, and periodontal disease resulting from receding gums.

Rebecca Crozier, a bioarchaeologist at the University of Aberdeen and co-author of the study, noted that the process of installing the wire was likely difficult for the patient.

The application of the ligature would likely have caused some discomfort during the procedure, but the man would have most likely gotten used to the presence of the wire over time and probably stopped noticing it.

Rebecca Crozier

The discovery provides insight into how dental problems were managed before dentistry became an official profession in the 19th century. The rarity of such treatment is highlighted by the scope of the research project; the team studied 100 individuals to analyze health trends in Scotland, and only one person exhibited this type of dental treatment.

The St. Nicholas East Kirk was known as one of the wealthiest and largest churches in Scotland between the 14th and 16th centuries, which may provide context for the use of a precious metal like 20-karat gold for a dental procedure.