Hesy-Ra, a high-ranking official in ancient Egypt, holds the distinction of being the earliest known dentist in recorded history. He lived around 2650 BC during Egypt’s Third Dynasty, under Pharaoh Djoser and possibly Sekhemkhet. [1] Hesy-Ra’s tomb inscriptions reveal several titles he held during the period.
Hesy-Ra’s name appears in inscriptions within his Mastaba tomb at Saqqara, an Old Kingdom necropolis near Djoser’s step pyramid. The inscriptions give him the title Wer-ibeḥ-senjw, often translated as “Great one of the dentists” or “Great one of the ivory cutters.” This makes him the earliest recorded figure explicitly linked to dentistry, often regarded as the world’s first dentist.
Historians highlight that his position as Chief of Dentists and Physicians suggests dentistry was already recognized as a specialized profession in ancient Egypt at the time.
The Mastaba of Hesy-Ra, first excavated by Auguste Mariette, French scholar, archaeologist and Egyptologist, in 1861 and later more thoroughly by James Quibell, a British Egyptologist between 1910 and 1912, is one of Saqqara’s most remarkable tombs.
The structure, about 43 meters long, was built of mudbrick and finished with white limestone. Inside, has a long corridor where archaeologists discovered a series of cedar wood panels intricately carved and painted. These panels, some of the oldest surviving wooden reliefs from Egypt, depict Hesy-Ra at different stages of life: youth, adulthood, and old age distinctively. The wooden reliefs are particularly significant since imported cedar wood was rare in Egypt, and the intricate details represent artistic masterpieces, highlighting Hesy-Ra’s importance.
Alongside these artistic panels, hieroglyphic inscriptions list his many official titles, recording not only his position in medicine but also his administrative and religious roles. Other titles carved in his tomb reflect his high social status, including Confidant of the King, Chief of the Scribes, and Magician of Mehit. His name Hesy-Ra connects him to Sun God Ra whose name was only added to Pharaohs and elites at the time.
The mummified remains show that dental disease was a widespread issue in Egypt. Ancient Egyptians often suffered from gum disease, worn teeth, and dental abscesses. The mummy of Amenhotep III showed a poor dental quality and that of Ramses II presented an abscess. One major cause of tooth wear was the grit and sand that entered food from the desert atmosphere. Their diet did not have refined sugars until Greeks invaded and brought in white bread and honey.
By Hesy-Ra’s lifetime, specialized knowledge of dental treatment was already emerging, and his role as Chief Dentist confirms he was at the forefront of these early dental practices in Egypt.
The dental treatment provided appears to be mainly restricted to pharmaceutical preparations that were either applied to the gingival and mucosal tissues or used as mouthwashes, may only have provided some short-term relief. It seems apparent that many ancient Egyptians suffered from widespread and painful dental disease, for which the available treatments can have done relatively little to alleviate.
The medical papyri of later periods, Ebers Papyrus, at nearly 20 metres and 110 pages, (it is the longest of the medical papyri) [3] from c. 1550 BC record dental remedies, including herbal applications, mouth rinses, and even mixtures to fill cavities. Although these texts are postdate Hesy-Ra.
Remedies included mixtures of honey, barley, herbs, and minerals for toothache or gum infection. Honey, known for its antibacterial properties, frequently appeared in recipes.
As evident from the preserved mummies, from the period of 3000 B.C. they were already inlaying precious stones in the teeth as a distinctive sign of beauty in the mouths of the pharaohs and making dental bridges, prostheses and implants and splints with gold wires, although only for aesthetic purposes.
A dental splint from 2500 BC found at Giza is the most famous evidence of dentistry. It wires two molars together through complex knots. However, the molars are not attached to a skeleton, which leads to speculation regarding the splint’s use. Experts believe that the procedure was not done inside the individual’s mouth while he was alive, so it might have been an attempt to make the body whole again for the journey to the afterlife. [2]
Archaeological studies also suggest Egyptians may have attempted early forms of dental surgery. Some skulls show attempts at drilling into abscesses, and there are indications of primitive fillings using gold and other medicinal material. Though not always effective, these interventions mark the earliest steps in the history of oral health.
Dentists in ancient Egypt, particularly one of Hesy-Ra’s stature, likely served the elite class. His proximity to Pharaoh Djoser and his many administrative titles suggest he was both a medical practitioner and a court official.
In Egyptian society, medical professionals were often trained scribes, capable of reading and recording knowledge preserved in papyri. This dual role reinforced their social importance. Dentists, physicians and priests, occupied respected positions because of their contribution to health and their connection to divine order.
Egyptian medicine was among the most advanced of the ancient world. Physicians were often specialized and some focused-on eye diseases, others on digestive issues, and still others on dental problems. The word swnw referred to doctors, while more specific titles, like that of Hesy-Ra, identified specialties.
Medical care in Egypt combined practical treatments with spiritual elements. Illness was sometimes attributed to the displeasure of gods or the presence of evil forces, so treatments could include both medicinal remedies and rituals. In Hesy-Ra’s case, his title as a “Magician of Mehit” highlights the link between healing and religion.
Hesy-Ra’s legacy lies not only in being named the first dentist but also in what his life reveals about ancient Egyptian medicine. His tomb inscriptions preserve the earliest historical acknowledgment of ancient Egyptian dentistry as a profession, recorded in the Hesy-Ra Saqqara tomb. This acknowledgment indicates that Egyptian society valued specialized knowledge and that oral health was a recognized concern over 4,500 years ago.
Today, Hesy-Ra is remembered as both a physician and a cultural figure who embodies the early stages of organized medicine. His recognition as the world’s first dentist reflects how dentistry, once rooted in ritual and basic treatment, has evolved into a respected specialty worldwide, continuing the legacy of oral healthcare across civilizations.
References:
Bestetti, Reinaldo B., Rosemary F. Daniel, Tufik M. Geleilete, and Ana Luiza N. Almeida. "From Shamans to Priests of Sekhmet: A Review of the Literature in Search for the Origins of Doctors in Ancient Egypt."
Cureus 16, no. 8 (2024): e67195. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.67195.
Amer, Heba. “Hesyre: The First Recorded Physician and Dental Surgeon in History.” ResearchGate, May 2015. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277553849_Hesyre_The_First_Recorded_Physician_and_Dental_Surgeon_in_History.
MSM