General abstract
British Dental Journal 197, 273 - 274 (2004)
Published online: 11 September 2004 | doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.4811623
Dental treatment in Anglo-Saxon England
T Anderson1
- An outline of Anglo-Saxon remedies for dental problems.
- A description of an Anglo-Saxon operation for a cleft palate.
- Archaeological evidence for an Anglo-Saxon dentist or 'tooth drawer'.
Abstract
Anglo-Saxon medical literature suggests that care of the teeth was largely limited to non-invasive treatment. Cures, mainly for toothache, were based on herbal remedies, charms and amulets. Herbal potions also treated oral problems as diverse as caries and facial deformities. However, surgical intervention for cleft lip is mentioned in the later documents. Skeletal evidence confirms that cleft lip and palate was definitely known to the Anglo-Saxons. A possible dentist's grave has been identified.
- Osteo-archaeologist, Vichy House, 15 St Mary's Street, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2QL
Correspondence to: T Anderson1 e-mail: anderson.trevor@tiscali.co.uk