>How was decayed or abscessed teeth treated back then? Before antibiotics?

In ancient times, people used various natural remedies to treat dental problems. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, ancient Egyptian texts suggest the use of various plants, including myrrh, cinnamon, and frankincense, to treat dental pain and infections (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2627095/).

In the Middle Ages, barbers often performed dental procedures, including tooth extractions and bloodletting. The use of silver as a filling material was also recorded during this time (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2627095/).

In the 18th century, extraction was the most common treatment for decayed or abscessed teeth. Some people even resorted to tying a string around the affected tooth and pulling it out themselves (https://www.ada.org/en/about-the-ada/ada-history-and-presidents-of-the-ada/ada-history-of-dentistry-timeline).

In the mid-19th century, arsenic was sometimes used to kill the nerve in the affected tooth, allowing for its removal without causing pain. This was known as "devitalization," but it was a dangerous practice that could lead to serious health complications (https://www.ada.org/en/about-the-ada/ada-history-and-presidents-of-the-ada/ada-history-of-dentistry-timeline).

Overall, the treatment of dental problems before the discovery of antibiotics was often crude and sometimes even dangerous.