We know the hip hop stars predilection for glittering “grills” on their teeth, what we did not know until recently was that the ancient Native Americans were beautifying their chompers some 2500 years ago.

Can we say that people in ancient times went to a cosmetic dentist? According to this study by the Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History we can.

Men (mostly) of the pre-columbian era would decorate their teeth with semiprecious stones. This practice was popular and was not an indication of class. These cosmetic dentists used pretty advanced technics to carve, notch or perforate the tooth, in which they inserted precious or semiprecious stones. They used an obsidian drill for most of the dental work that they did, and since gas was out of question, anesthetics were derived from plants.
Adhesives made from herbs, copal, crushed bones and mineral powder were used to glue the stone in place.

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Tagged as:  Beauty · Cosmetic Dentistry · Health · Smiles