We are not talking about ancient 'societies' but rather ancient hunter gather people. Civilisation is only around 12,000 years old, modern humans have been around for 200,000 years and hominids for millions of years. Different time scale.
Think obesity, heart disease and diabetes. These don't exist in hunter gatherer people alive today and there is no record that humans ever had these problems before agriculture and civilization. We are better at treating health problems when they do arrise but we also have health problems that are caused by our lifestyle.
Why do people get dental work? Because good teeth are a sign of good health. We have far more problems with our teeth than hunter gatherer people but you don't see it because it is masked by dentistry. We have problems with blood pressure but it's masked with statins. We have problems with blood sugar but it's masked by insulin injections. We have problems with fatigue but its masked by coffee and sugar. We have problems with our joints and well... we haven't figured out what to do about that one yet. The list goes on.
Think obesity, heart disease and diabetes. These don't exist in hunter gatherer people alive today and there is no record that humans ever had these problems before agriculture and civilization. We are better at treating health problems when they do arrise but we also have health problems that are caused by our lifestyle.
Why do people get dental work? Because good teeth are a sign of good health. We have far more problems with our teeth than hunter gatherer people but you don't see it because it is masked by dentistry. We have problems with blood pressure but it's masked with statins. We have problems with blood sugar but it's masked by insulin injections. We have problems with fatigue but its masked by coffee and sugar. We have problems with our joints and well... we haven't figured out what to do about that one yet. The list goes on.