ORAL HEALTH IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE: HISTORICAL TEXTS AND SKELETAL EVIDENCE
Keywords:
Roman Empire, Oral Health, Dental DiseaseAbstract
Oral health in the Roman Empire provides a unique window into the intersection of medical knowledge, diet, and daily life in antiquity. While Roman medical texts offer insight into contemporary understanding of dental diseases and treatments, skeletal remains provide empirical evidence of oral pathology, wear, and treatment interventions. This article examines the prevalence, causes, and management of dental diseases in Roman populations by integrating historical sources, including writings by Celsus and Galen, with bioarchaeological analyses of Roman skeletal collections. The findings reveal that dental health was influenced by diet, social status, hygiene practices, and access to medical care, and that Romans employed a variety of preventive and therapeutic strategies. Understanding oral health in this context sheds light on both the biological challenges and cultural attitudes toward dental care in one of history’s most influential civilizations.
References
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