For centuries, the Shroud of Turin has inspired devotion and controversy alike. Believed by millions of Christians to be the burial cloth of Jesus Christ, the linen bears the faint image of a crucified man. Now, a new claim from a surgeon adds fresh intrigue to one of the Church’s most mysterious relics.
According to the Daily Mail, Dr. John Sottosanti, a dental surgeon, reported seeing “the biting edges of the lower front teeth, known as the incisal plane” on the cloth. He explained that after death “a phenomenon called primary flaccidity occurs, where all the muscles in the body relax, including those in the jaw. This can lead to the jaw dropping open and the teeth separating.” Sottosanti believes this detail—small though it may seem—points to something extraordinary.
He argues that the appearance of the teeth supports the idea that “the body emitted a burst of radiant energy at the moment of the Resurrection, powerful enough to imprint even the smallest anatomical features” (Daily Mail). For him, the visibility of the teeth, normally hidden behind the lips, suggests more than natural processes at work.
Not all experts are persuaded. Dr. Kelly Kearse, an immunologist who has studied the Shroud extensively, cautioned that the “issue of visible teeth on the Shroud is a subjective one,” noting that the cloth’s weave and banding patterns make it “difficult to tell” what is truly there.
Still, this is not the first time researchers have noticed dental impressions. The Daily Mail notes that in 1982, Dr. Giles Carter suggested that X-radiation from within the body could have helped create the image, possibly including bones and teeth. Similarly, Dr. Alan Whanger of Duke University and his wife Mary used polarized imaging techniques and claimed to discern as many as 20 teeth, even roots. New Testament scholar Gary Habermas has also stated, “You can see very clearly what appears to be teeth and roots… You can see the roots through the hair and through the skin.”
Sottosanti, however, remains cautious, disputing some of these earlier findings. He argues that what some interpret as roots are actually vertical striations from the cloth’s weave. “The vertical striations extend beyond the normal length of the teeth, so it is the weave, not the actual roots,” he explained (Daily Mail).
The Shroud, over 14 feet long, has been housed in Turin, Italy, since the 1500s and is only occasionally displayed. Its mysterious image shows a crucified man—about 5-foot-6—with wounds matching those inflicted on Christ during the Passion. While a controversial carbon dating test in 1988 dated a sample of the cloth to the Middle Ages, many scholars argue the tested portion came from a medieval repair, not the original fabric.
Whether or not Sottosanti’s theory is universally accepted, his observation points back to the same central question that has captivated the faithful for centuries: how was the Shroud’s image made? For Christians, the possibility that radiant energy at the Resurrection imprinted the linen serves as a reminder of the mystery and power of Christ’s victory over death.
As Sottosanti himself concludes, “Suppose teeth, located behind the lower lip, are indeed evident in the image on the Shroud. In that case, their presence lends credence to the theory that a burst of energy was released at the time of the resurrection, allowing them to be in the image” (Daily Mail).
Your support brings the truth to the world.
Catholic Online News exists because of donors like you. We are 100% funded by people who believe the world deserves real, uncensored news rooted in faith and truth — not corporate agendas. Your gift ensures millions can continue to access the news they can trust — stories that defend life, faith, family, and freedom.
When truth is silenced, your support speaks louder.
