Roman roots of dentistry

QUESTION Was dentistry practised in

Roman times? In 1987, in a drain beneath a shop being excavated in Rome’s ancient Forum, 86 teeth were found. All had cavities. These were later dated to the 1st century AD and provided evidence that the premises were used as a dental practice.

The shop was at the base of the Temple of Castor and Pollux, and it may be that the twin deities were associated with dentistry.

Roman medicine, following from Greek traditions, was quite advanced. Operations such as amputations and Caesarean sections, catheter insertions and gynaecological examinations were practised, so basic dentistry would have been within their capabilities.

However, it would likely have been limited to tooth extraction and herbal pain relief.

The 86 teeth showed little damage resulting from their removal, and bioarchaeologist Marshall Becker concluded that the dentist who removed them was quite skilled.

The 450BC Roman Law of the Twelve Tables shows teeth were highly valued, stating: ‘Whoever shall cause the tooth of a free man to be knocked out shall pay a fine of three hundred as.’

Ancient toothpaste recipes also exist, going back to the ancient Greeks, who first used mint.

The Etruscans, forefathers of the Romans, also practised cosmetic dentistry, inserting lost teeth into bridges anchored to neighbouring teeth by gold bands.

In the Roman era, dentists were first granted a patron saint, St Apollonia. She was martyred in the 2nd century, when all of her teeth were brutally pulled out.

Bob Cubitt, Northampton.

QUESTION Was there a real St James Infirmary, as in the old jazz favourite?

FURTHER to the earlier answer, I believe the best rendition of St James Infirmary was by Jack Teagarden, King of the Blues Trombone. It was the unofficial signature tune of Jack’s All Stars big band in the swing era. There is also a great version featuring Jack and Louis Armstrong.

Bryn Webber, Neath, W. Glamorgan.