The longest human tooth ever extracted, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, measured 37 millimeters (approximately 1.46 inches). A dentist in Offenbach, Germany, removed this tooth from a patient experiencing severe pain. This record surpasses previous record holders, including one in India.
Different Interpretations of "Longest Tooth"
The question "What is the longest tooth in history?" is open to interpretation depending on what kind of tooth is being considered:
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Longest Human Tooth: As stated above, the current record holder is a 37-millimeter human tooth extracted by a German dentist. This was officially recognized by the Guinness World Records. Other sources mention a previously held record of 3.2 cm (approximately 1.26 inches), highlighting the ongoing evolution of record keeping in this specific area.
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Longest Tooth of Any Animal: The largest teeth ever found belong to the extinct megalodon shark. While not technically teeth in the same way as those found in mammals, megalodon's teeth reached lengths up to 18 centimeters (7 inches) or even longer. The teeth of Livyatan, an extinct whale, are also noteworthy, measuring up to 36.2 cm (1.19 ft), although these are more accurately described as tusks.
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Longest Tooth in Fossil Record: The oldest known shark-like teeth date back to the Early Devonian period, around 410 million years ago, belonging to an ancient fish. Determining the absolute "longest" fossil tooth is challenging due to the incompleteness of the fossil record and difficulties in accurately measuring fossilized remains.
Sources and Further Research
The information presented here is based on several reputable sources, including:
- Guinness World Records: Officially recognized the 37-millimeter human tooth as the longest.
- DW News: Reported on the German dentist's record-breaking extraction.
- Various online publications: Reported on the record and compared it to previous records.
- Natural History Museum (NHM): Provided information on megalodon teeth and ancient shark tooth fossils.
It is important to note that records can change, and further discoveries might reveal even larger teeth in the future. This answer, however, reflects the currently available information.
