Even Vikings can’t escape the dentist. Study reveals their ‘complex’ oral procedures
As it turns out, even the now long-dead Vikings couldn’t escape a trip to the dentist. After spending around 1,000 years in the ground, the skeletal remains of over 100 Swedish Vikings were exhumed and examined by a dentist, who found ample evidence of decay and disease. Intriguingly, signs of complex oral procedures as well as mysterious markings were also discovered, providing a unique understanding of life in historical times.
The remains were unearthed from a church cemetery in Skara, located about 200 miles southwest of Stockholm. The graves, which date to the 10th through 12th centuries, were filled with Christian Vikings who once dwelled in a nearby farming community.
Aided by undergraduate dental students, a dentist analyzed 3,293 teeth from 171 individuals, some of which were also subjected to X-rays. Like many patients at the dentist today, the exhumed Vikings’ oral hygiene was found wanting. Nearly half of the individuals examined, 49%, had one or more carious lesions, which are holes that form in teeth.
Interestingly, this finding indicates young Vikings had better oral hygiene than their living descendants. Today around 20% of Swedish 6-year-olds have or have had at least one cavity (and Sweden has one of the lowest caries rates in the world), said Carolina Bertilsson, one of the study’s authors. Consumption of highly processed carbohydrates and sugar likely plays a role in the higher rates of tooth decay in modern times.
Additionally, it appears some Vikings tried to combat bad oral hygiene as signs of abrasion, likely caused by toothpicks, were found in several instances. Evidence of more advanced oral procedures was also discovered. There were two cases where findings on the mandibular first molars indicated that an opening and widening of the pulpal chamber had been created, most likely in an attempt to relieve pain, researchers said.
One individual, a middle-aged male, also had mysterious horizontal lines filed into his front teeth, a phenomenon seen in other Viking remains as well as on remains in England, Denmark, and Egypt. It is not known why they did this, but it must have had some cultural importance, said Bertilsson. Researchers suggested it may have been a marker of identity.
The Vikings in this community mainly drank beer and ate an abundance of starchy foods, including wheat and barley. It’s likely this diet, combined with poor oral hygiene, contributed to high levels of dental disease.
The findings from this study shed light on the dental health and practices of Vikings in historical times. Despite living in an era without modern dental tools and treatments, Vikings still sought relief from dental pain and attempted to maintain oral hygiene. This research adds to our understanding of Viking culture and highlights the importance of dental health throughout history.
In conclusion, even Vikings had to face the dentist’s chair. The analysis of their skeletal remains revealed evidence of decay, disease, and complex oral procedures. These discoveries provide unique insights into the lives of Vikings in historical times. It seems that despite their tough reputation, Vikings shared a common struggle with dental health that continues to affect people today.
