Ancient Egyptian Tooth Wear

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AThis extensive abrasion was primarily caused by airborne desert sand and stone grit shed from grinding slabs into daily bread.
BOver time, consuming this coarse food ground down protective enamel, gradually exposing the sensitive pulp cavity beneath.
CAs a consequence, painful abscesses and secondary infections were among the most common ailments recorded in the region.
DSkeletal remains from ancient Egypt frequently reveal severe and uniform tooth wear across all social classes.

Questions 2–5

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Neolithic Tooth Drilling

AResearchers determined that these precise holes were created using tiny, flint-tipped bow drills.
BMicroscopic analysis of molar teeth dating back thousands of years revealed smooth, cylindrical cavities hollowed into the enamel.
CArchaeological excavations in prehistoric burial sites have uncovered surprisingly early evidence of therapeutic dental drilling.
DSuch discoveries demonstrate that skilled craft traditions were adapted for complex medical care far earlier than previously assumed.
EInterestingly, some drilled teeth showed signs of subsequent smoothing from chewing, proving that patients survived the painful intervention.

Tudor Sugar and Decay

ABecause only the wealthiest households could afford this luxury sweetener, excessive consumption quickly produced rampant dental decay among the upper class.
BDuring the sixteenth century, the increasing importation of refined sugar dramatically transformed the diet of European nobility.
CConsequently, blackened and rotting teeth became regarded as an enviable hallmark of privilege and wealth.
DLess affluent individuals even applied dark cosmetic pastes to their smiles in a deliberate attempt to mimic this aristocratic affliction.

Evolution of the Toothbrush

AThese primitive implements used coarse hairs harvested from wild boars, attached securely to carved bone or bamboo bases.
BEuropean travellers eventually encountered these cleaning tools and carried the design westward during the eighteenth century.
CIn medieval Asia, however, inventors crafted the earliest predecessor to the modern toothbrush by mounting stiff bristles onto handles.
DFor millennia, oral hygiene relied predominantly on chew sticks fashioned from aromatic tree twigs.
EWestern manufacturers subsequently replaced the abrasive animal hair with softer horsehair to prevent gum damage.

Etruscan Dental Bridges

AThese elaborate devices consisted of thin gold bands carefully soldered together to bridge spaces left by missing teeth.
BInto these custom metal frames, artisans fitted replacement teeth sourced from animals or human donors, securing them with gold rivets.
CBecause these delicate prostheses were largely decorative, historians believe they were worn primarily by elite women to signal prestige.
DAncient Etruscan metalworkers produced some of the earliest known dental appliances in the Mediterranean basin.

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