St Apollonia's tooth--a relic in the cathedral treasury in Rab (Croatia)

To anatomically identify and describe the changes on the tooth of St Apollonia which is kept as a relic in Rab (Croatia). SOURCES AND METHODS: Reviewing relevant literature, macroscopic examination of the tooth in the reliquary, photographing and further examining the enlarged photos.

The tooth in question is the first upper right premolar. Observed pathological change is type II enamel lesion, i.e. cervical or gingival caries. Other discovered characteristics are enamel fracture on the distoaproximal surface, shallow fracture on the occlusal third of the crown and two enamel formations, a cluster of smooth and shiny enamel surfaces.

Attention is drawn to a relic that was previously virtually unknown. It is presented how important this relic is for Christian and ethnomedical tradition. Additionally, anatomical determination and the description of pathoanatomical changes are used to affirm the anthropological approach as one of the prerequisites in the attempt to scientifically evaluate the relic phenomenon.