BRIDGING THE GAP
Teeth re-structuring of the early Bisayans
The pre-Spanish Bisayans practiced what is called decorative dentistry. They leveled their teeth through filing by the use of a slender stone filed performed by an expert. Sometimes half the tooth was removed in the process. Variations included opening the space in between the teeth, or grinding them to saw-tooth points, depending upon the preference of the owner. Whatever the style was, the desired effect was always to render the teeth even and symmetrical, as well as colored.
The coloring of the teeth was done in different ways. Both men and women were engaged in the regular chewing of anipay root that made their teeth black. Or they applied a tar-based coating called tapul that gave their dentures the appearance of polished ebony, and probably had also a preservative effect. Those who wished their teeth to appear red, made use of red lakha ant eggs and kaso flowers. The deep red effect was heightened and preserved by the habitual betel nut chewing.
The prevailing idea behind the practice of teeth filing was that only wild animals had white teeth and had fangs or tusks. Thus, it is not right for human beings to look like dogs and cats, and procedures had to be done to correct or obviate natural misalignment on the part of human teeth. The practice of decorative dentistry was reported to be widespread in Southeast Asia prior to the advent of the European colonizers. For example, Ralph Fitch, an English businessman, noted it in Burma in 1591 (Scott, 1995).
The most impressive examples of Bisayan dentistry were its gold work. Archaeological works had brought out plenty of specimens on this aspect, including those in Pansy Island. This gold work consisted of inlays, crowns or plating performed by a dental worker who got paid for his professional services. Generally, this profession was handed down from father to sin, and down through the generations.
A set of vocabulary terms had been used to refer to teeth gold work as practiced by the early Bisayans (Sanchez, 1617). Bansil were gold pegs inserted in holes drilled on the surface of incisors with an awl called ulok. Halop or covering referred to both plating held on by little gold rivets run through the tooth, and actual caps extending beyond the gum line, also secured by pegs. The gold work was considered all the more effective and attractive if displayed on teeth polished bright red or jet black. For some who can really afford to secure a liberal quantity of gold and to pay the services of the native dental worker, the most spectacular decorative dentistry would be to cover the entire teeth with gold. This would allow the owner to have a glittering teeth as he opened his mouth to speak or smile, especially at night time -- indeed, a source of pride for him/her.
With the coming of Spanish colonizers, the indigenous practice of dentistry gradually declined, partly through the adoption of Spanish culture and conversion to Catholicism. But, the most important factor was that gold became scarce because they were confiscated by the Spaniards or were used by the Bisayans to pay their tribute to the latter.