The History of Dental Filling Materials from Prehistoric to Modern Times
Dental issues have plagued humankind throughout history and evidence of preparing and filling cavities dates back at least 13,000 years. Here's a look at some of the different materials used to fill cavities over the years.
Image: © Stefano Benazzi
Bitumen
The earliest evidence of dental fillings dates back 13,000 and was found in the remains of a person who lived in Riparo Fredian in what is now Northern Italy. The discovery was first published in 2017, after researchers found human remains with sizable holes bored into the central incisors.
The holes show marks indicating they were prepared with some kind of drill, and while fillings no longer remain, there was evidence of bitumen, a natural, tar-like substance, within the ancient preps, making this the first known dental filling material
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