Science • 2026-05-13 15:00

Early Humans Treated Dental Cavities Using Drilling Technique

A Neanderthal tooth discovered in 2018 shows clear evidence of human intervention to treat bacterial decay. The discovery, reported by New Scientist on May 13, suggests that the earliest form of dentistry dates back at least 59,000 years. This breakthrough challenges previous assumptions about when and how early humans developed techniques to address oral health issues.

Sources