Medieval jaw reveals Scotland's first known dental bridge made from 20-carat gold

Krystal Kasal

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Without good dental care, teeth tend to suffer. An abundance of archaeological evidence has shown that poor oral health was common throughout history. And unsurprisingly, there have been many attempts at dental restoration throughout history, as well. Now, archaeologists have identified the earliest example of a dental bridge in Scotland. Their study, recently published in the British Dental Journal, describes the device found on the teeth of a man buried in Aberdeen during medieval times.

Dental care before dentists

Dentistry was officially established as a profession in the 19th century. However, various forms of dental treatment and attempts at restoration have been practiced for thousands of years. Evidence of dental care goes as far back as 14,000 years ago during the Late Upper Paleolithic period, where archaeologists have found potential modifications on teeth with cavities in them. Additional evidence shows up in Slovenia from around 6,500 years ago as beeswax found in a dental cavity of another individual.

Dental ligatures, in the form of silver or gold wires secured to teeth to stabilize another tooth or replace a lost tooth, have been identified in Egypt as early as 2,500 BCE. However, archaeologists believe that some of these were placed after death to "ensure that the body was 'complete' before burial."

The study authors say that oral remedies became more common in Europe by the Middle Ages, according to medical, surgical, and scientific treatises on the subject. But more often, teeth were not handled by medical professionals.

"Most of these surgical texts are relatively brief in their instruction regarding teeth and oral health more generally. One of the reasons that has been suggested for this is that teeth were generally considered outside the purview of medieval physicians and surgeons. During the Middle Ages, teeth were often treated by barbers, or dentatores, who were individuals that specialized in teeth," the study authors write.

The authors note that few examples of dental ligatures have been found at archaeological sites in Europe that predate the 17th century. Of the few examples in Europe, none had been previously found in Scotland.

One-hundred individuals, one dental ligature

In 2006, the skeletal remains of around 900 individuals and 3.5 metric tons of disarticulated skeletal material were excavated from the East Kirk of St. Nicholas Kirk in Aberdeen, Scotland (kirk is a Scottish word meaning "church"). The church underwent a period of rebuilding and expansion during the 14–16th centuries and was recognized as one of the largest churches in Scotland at the time.

A later research project on temporal health trends throughout Scotland involved the reassessment of skeletons salvaged from the Kirk of St Nicholas. Among the remains were a mandible with a gold ligature connecting some of the teeth with one missing from the center. Acting as a bridge, the device was likely held in a prosthetic tooth of some kind or kept a loose tooth in place. Out of the remains of 100 individuals, only one featured a dental ligature.

The team conducted radiocarbon dating on the mandible and scanning electron microscopy and X-ray spectroscopy to analyze the wire's composition. The individual's age and sex were estimated from skeletal features and dental wear. They determined that the individual was a middle-aged man buried in Aberdeen between 1460 and 1670 CE. Marks in the teeth indicated that the ligature had been in place for a significant time before the man's death.

The ligature wire was made from 20-carat gold alloy. The team says that during the time period at least 22 goldsmiths were operating in Aberdeen who were likely capable of producing a simple gold wire and creating the knot to keep the wire secured. They note that the presence of such a piece indicates that the man not only had access to skilled craftsmanship, but was likely wealthy. Although the ligature may have helped in retaining masticatory abilities and oral function, the man may have been swayed by social pressures to keep his teeth intact as well.

"The underlying reasons for undergoing this procedure were likely multifaceted. During the Late Medieval and Early Modern periods, an individual's physical appearance was believed to be indicative of their individual character. The appearance of a person and their perceived health was linked to one's sins. As such, the social importance of an individual's smile encouraged those who were able to afford such treatments to seek them out," write the study authors.

The team can't say for certain that the dental work was done locally in Aberdeen or elsewhere, but they say this case study contributes to a growing body of evidence for the premodern practice of restorative dentistry.

Written for you by our author Krystal Kasal, edited by Gaby Clark, and fact-checked and reviewed by Robert Egan—this article is the result of careful human work. We rely on readers like you to keep independent science journalism alive. If this reporting matters to you, please consider a donation (especially monthly). You'll get an ad-free account as a thank-you.

More information

Jenna M. Dittmar et al, Restorative dentistry in Early Modern Scotland: archaeological evidence of the use of a gold ligature, British Dental Journal (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41415-025-9107-3

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