The Mayans developed great dental skills most likely for ritual, or religious purposes. It is believed that dental modifications were used to identify with a polity, ruler, region, or lineage. The Mayans placed carved stone inlays into prepared cavities on the front teeth. Minerals like jadeite, sepentine, pyrite, cinnabar, turquoise, hematite, and iron pyrites imbedded in these cavities can be observed in person at the Mexico City museum. To make the cavity on the enamel, the Mayans used a copper tube. The tube was spun between the hands, and powered quartz in water was incorporated as a means of making it abrasive. This action leads to the creation of a round hole on the tooth enamel. The stone inlays were grounded to fit exactly into the cavity. Younger children teeth have not been found with these modifications.
Image Source: Emmashavrick. Inlay dental modification. Wikimedia Commons.
