The Attack on the Tooth Worm

Exarc Journal Issue 2016/3 https://journal.exarc.net/issue-2016-3/int/attack-tooth-worm. Wiel van der Mark (NL) Stichting Oculare. Wilt u het volledige artikel ontvangen: mail dan naar [email protected]

A unique approach to heritage interpretation; by analysing and reconstructing medieval dental treatments through research and re-enactment.
It is the year 1350 in Gravendam, the medieval town of Archaeological Open-air Museum (AOAM) Archeon in the Netherlands. There is a great deal of commotion on the street when the master cabinetmaker, John, screams out in pain and despair caused by a cavity in one of his molars. The sound of his scream is heard by everyone! His wife, Marte, tries to reassure him, at the same time scolding him for not going to see the barber surgeon, Master William, sooner. She pushes him into the workshop of Master William, who is ready to examine the poor patient. A crowd has gathered outside the workshop, all curious to see what horrific scenes are about to take place.

Master John has toothache: the barber surgeon knows that the treatment will be very painful.  Master William will proceed, just as he has been taught, with caution but also with determination. He knows that it is forbidden to just rip the affected tooth from the poor man’s mouth because it is far too dangerous as you will see. How will he treat the unfortunate patient and how is the patient relieved from his pain? And what will be the best outcome of the treatment?
In this second article about medical medieval treatments in Archeon, the cause of a cavity (hole) in the tooth and the treatment of this medical problem is both described and interpreted.

Medieval healers had no idea that dental caries was the cause of tooth decay, they were only concerned about the balance in between the humours. After all, they had no idea that there were bacteria causing caries because they were so small that they could not see them.