Cavemen conducted dental surgery tens of thousands of years before anesthetics, reveals new research. Neanderthal dentists were using stone drills to treat cavities nearly 60,000 years ago – more than 40,000 years earlier than previously thought, according to the study. A tooth discovered in a Russian cave has provided the oldest evidence of “complex” dental care, say scientists. Their findings, published in the journal PLOS One, show Neanderthals had the know-how to identify a tooth infection and the motor skills to drill out the damage. The archaeological discoveries also reveal that Neanderthals used toothpicks to remove food from their teeth and might also have used medicinal plants. But the Russian research team says the extent of their medical capabilities is unclear. A single molar found in Chagyrskaya Cave, Siberia, is around 59,000 years old and has received physical alterations to treat infection. Cavemen conducted dental surgery tens of thousands of years before anesthetics, reveals new research.…