Tucked deep within the jungles of Mesoamerica, the Maya people developed a unique cultural practice that seems more akin to a modern body modification subculture than anything we might associate with ancient civilizations. Their dentistry, a mix of aesthetic choice and social status symbol, included filing teeth into pointed shapes and inlaying them with jade, a stone revered for its spiritual significance. This process wasn't merely for decoration but also served as a marker of wealth and statu