Scientists discover the first evidence of dental surgery in ancient Egypt

Relics‌‌ 09:25 AM - 2021-04-28

Photo Credit: Reuters

A virtual autopsy of the Osirmose's mummy, the doorkeeper of the Temple of Re, revealed several medical interventions in the mouth area that likely took place throughout the life of Osirmose.

 

This is the first evidence on the use of oral surgeries in Ancient Egypt. The studied mummy belongs to the Royal Museum of Art and History in Belgium.

 

Osirmose lived during the 25th dynasty, and was a member of a prominent family of Thebes' priests. His mummy was among the memorabilia of the Swedish Antiquarian Giovanni Anastasi, and was sold after his death at an auction to a Belgian antiquities collector, and then to the Royal Museum of Art and History in Belgium.

 

During the study, published in the latest issue of the journal Ojs earlier this month, researchers at the Saint Luc University performed a virtual autopsy on the Egyptian mummy using a three-dimensional (3D) high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scan. The taken images were later examined by a multidisciplinary team composed of radiologists, archaeologists, and oral and maxillofacial surgeons.

 

The researchers confirmed the mummy belonged to a man. They found the heart, aorta, and kidneys inside the mummy's body. Brain excerebration was performed, and artificial eyes were added above the stuffing of eye globes.

 

The teeth decay was more obvious in the upper maxilla, where the researchers discovered several anomalies including a rectangular hole on the palatine side of tooth n°26. The palatine root of tooth n°26 was missing.

 

Based on these findings, the researchers believe that this study provides the first evidence of a tooth removal site, and of oral surgery procedures previously conducted in old Egyptian embalmed mummy.

 

 

 

PUKmedia / Asharq Al-Awsat