antiquity. The Greek historian Herodotus visited Egypt around 440 BC and wrote extensively of his observations of their medicinal practice. Pliny the The medicine of the ancient Egyptians is some of the oldest documented. From the beginnings of the civilization in the late fourth millennium BC until the Persian invasion of 525 BC, Egyptian medical practice went largely unchanged and included simple non-invasive surgery, setting of bones, dentistry, and an extensive set of pharmacopoeia. Egyptian medical thought influenced later traditions, incl Until the 19th century, the main sources of information about ancient Egyptian medicine were writings from later in antiquity. The Greek historian Herodotus visited Egypt around 440 BC and wrote extensively of his observations of their medicinal practice. Pliny the Elder also wrote favorably of them in historical review. Hippocrates (the "father of medicine"), Herophilos, Erasistratus and later Galen studied at the temple of Amenhotep, and acknowledged the contribution of ancient Egyptian medicine to Greek medicine. The decipherment of ancient Egyptian scripts in the early 19th century allowed the translation of ancient Egyptian inscriptions and papyri, including many related to medical matters (Egyptian medical papyri). The resultant interest in Egyptology in the 19th century led to the discovery of several sets of extensive ancient medical documents, including the Ebers papyrus, the Edwin Smith Papyrus, the Hearst Papyrus, the London Medical Papyrus and others dating back as far as 2900 BC. The Edwin Smith Papyrus is a textbook on surgery and details anatomical observations and the "examination, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis" of numerous ailments. It was probably written around 1600 BC, but is regarded as a copy of several earlier texts. Medical information in it dates from as early as 3000 BC. It is thus viewed as a learning manual. Treatments consisted of ointments made from animal, vegetable or fruit substances or minerals. There is evidence of oral surgery being performed as early as the 4th Dynasty (2900–2750 BC). The Ebers papyrus (c. 1550 BC) includes 877 prescriptions – as categorized by a modern editor – for a variety of ailments and illnesses, some of them involving magical remedies, for Egyptian beliefs regarding magic and medicine were often intertwined. It also contains documentation revealing awareness of tumors, along with instructions on tumor removal. The Kahun Gynaecological Papyrus treats women's complaints, including problems with conception. Thirty four cases detailing diagnosis and treatment survive, some of them fragmentarily. Dating to 1800 BC, it is the oldest surviving medical text of any kind. Other documents such as the… Egy…

This second part of the study on ancient dental care explores dental practices in ancient Egypt and the Graeco-Roman world, drawing on both textual and archaeological evidence to shed new light on dental care and early dentistry. The arid climate and distinctive burial customs of ancient Egypt have resulted in the exceptional preservation of numerous skeletal and mummified remains, allowing researchers to study the full spectrum of dental conditions across three millennia. While a few texts reference medicaments for dental care, there is scant osteological evidence for interventive dental procedures. In contrast, classical Graeco-Roman sources offer richer documentation of dental practices and the evolution of dental care; although, again there is limited archaeological evidence. Early Greek texts, including the Hippocratic Corpus and the writings of Aristotle and Theophrastus, lay the groundwork for understanding dental anatomy and basic dental treatment, while later, Roman authors such as Celsus, Pliny and Galen describe surgical extractions, prosthetics and pharmaceutical remedies in greater detail. By integrating these diverse lines of evidence, this analysis highlights both the advancements and limitations of ancient dental care, revealing the complex interplay between culture, diet and medical knowledge.

[History of tooth extraction from antiquity to modern times] - PubMed Clipboard, Search History, and several other advanced features are temporarily unavailable. [Skip to main page content](#article-details)  An official website of the United States government Here's how you know  **The .gov means it’s official.** Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.  **The site is secure.** The**https://**ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. [](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/) [Log in](https://account.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)Show account info Close#### Account Logged in as: **username** * [Dashboard](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/) * [Publications](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/c

Dentistry and dental care in antiquity: part 2 – Egypt and the Graeco-Roman World | British Dental Journal ## Abstract This second part of the study on ancient dental care explores dental practices in ancient Egypt and the Graeco-Roman world, drawing on both textual and archaeological evidence to shed new light on dental care and early dentistry. The arid climate and distinctive burial customs of ancient Egypt have resulted in the exceptional preservation of numerous skeletal and mummified remains, allowing researchers to study the full spectrum of dental conditions across three millennia. While a few texts reference medicaments for dental care, there is scant osteological evidence for interventive dental procedures. In contrast, classical Graeco-Roman sources offer richer documentation of dental practices and the evolution of dental care; although, again there is limited archaeological evidence. Early Greek texts, including the Hippocratic Corpus and the writings of Aristotle and Theophrastus, lay the groundwork for understanding dental anatomy and basic dental treatment, while later, Roman authors such as Celsus, Pliny and Galen describe surgical extractions, prosthetics and ph

Dentistry and dental care in antiquity: part 1 – prehistory, Mesopotamia, Israel, Etruria and the Far East | British Dental Journal Download PDF ## Abstract This paper – the first of two – explores the development of dentistry and dental care practices across diverse ancient civilisations. Evidence from prehistory, from a 13,000-year-old intervention at Riparo Fredian in northern Italy, to Neolithic findings in Pakistan and Slovenia, suggests that early populations attempted to alleviate pain and manage oral conditions. In Mesopotamia, cuneiform texts detail treatments for caries and periodontal disease, accompanied by recommendations and prescriptions for oral hygiene. Although these texts describe various therapeutic approaches, there is no mention of any operative procedures, and the sparse osteological record similarly offers no evidence of dental intervention. Biblical and Talmudic sources from ancient Israel emphasise the cultural significance of dental aesthetics, offering insights into remedies and practices intended to preserve the natural look of the teeth. Discoveries from Etruria and Phoenicia, dated to the first millennium BC, including dental bridges and gold-wire