The Mayans replaced their teeth with false teeth carved out of a ceramic material sourced out of sea shells called nacre or mother of pearls. These replacements with gem-studded teeth were not part of a dental treatment but for cosmetic effect. This procedure would have affected their eating habits but could have improved their smile.
Mayan period dental decorations thorough filing and incrustation methods.
Nacre comprises of nanoscopic (300-500 nm) diamond-like crystals made of the inorganic molecule calcium carbonate. These crystals are cemented together with the organic component; a protein called chitin; a complex carbohydrate or polysaccharide (poly – many, saccharide – sugar). White light gets reflected as it passes through the nanocrystals and the resulting interference of light rays is the cause of the iridescence.
A property of nacre, which perhaps led to its usage, is its ability to resist crack formation. Nacre is 3000 times more resilient than its inorganic or organic components. Additionally, these implants showed excellent integration with the surrounding tissue. Osseointegration is the technical term used to describe this phenomenon and occurs due to robust bonding between dental implant with the surrounding bone tissue.
The osseointegration of the Mayan implants were similar to those of modern dental implants. For example, below, X-ray images of the Mayan and a modern (Greenfield basket) dental implants are shown. The opacity (white area) surrounding both the implant indicates osseointegration – the presence of hard or bone tissue surrounding the implant.
The figure shows X-ray radiograph of a Mayan dental implant (a) and modern implant (b). The opaque (white) layer surrounding the implants indicates presence of bone around the implant – a sign of osseointegration.