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International Journal of Paleopathology Mar 2024This paper explores dental diseases and wear as a proxy for dietary patterns in Hellenistic-early Roman Menainon.
OBJECTIVE
This paper explores dental diseases and wear as a proxy for dietary patterns in Hellenistic-early Roman Menainon.
MATERIALS
This study includes 166 individuals (4th-1st c. BCE).
METHODS
Carious lesions, dental calculus, antemortem tooth loss, and dental wear were recorded to explore male-female and adult-juvenile differences, and to position Menainon in the broader Hellenistic/early Roman world through comparisons with published data from other sites.
RESULTS
Males and females showed similar rates of dental diseases. Dental wear, in contrast, was systematically greater in males. Caries rates were high in both adults and juveniles, but adults showed more calculus. The population from Menainon had higher frequencies for calculus and carious lesions compared to contemporary Italian and Greek assemblages, and a similar frequency for antemortem tooth loss.
CONCLUSION
Some sex-related differences in the dietary patterns of the Menainon population were visible but small. The diet of adults and juveniles must have been similar in terms of carbohydrate consumption but different with regard to protein consumption. The high frequency of carious lesions and calculus compared to other Greco-Roman sites suggests that this population must have had good access to dietary resources (protein and carbohydrates).
SIGNIFICANCE
This paper provides insights on gender (sex-related) and age divisions in the Hellenistic/early Roman society through the exploration of food consumption in a Sicilian assemblage.
LIMITATIONS
Dividing the assemblage by sex and age group reduced considerably the sample size.
SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH
Stable isotopes and dental microwear analyses should be used to investigate dietary patterns further.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Male; Female; Tooth Loss; Sicily; Dietary Patterns; Tooth Wear; Calculi; Dental Caries
PubMed: 38039701
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2023.11.002 -
Nature Microbiology Dec 2023The prevalence of chronic, non-communicable diseases has risen sharply in recent decades, especially in industrialized countries. While several studies implicate the...
The prevalence of chronic, non-communicable diseases has risen sharply in recent decades, especially in industrialized countries. While several studies implicate the microbiome in this trend, few have examined the evolutionary history of industrialized microbiomes. Here we sampled 235 ancient dental calculus samples from individuals living in Great Britain (∼2200 BCE to 1853 CE), including 127 well-contextualized London adults. We reconstructed their microbial history spanning the transition to industrialization. After controlling for oral geography and technical biases, we identified multiple oral microbial communities that coexisted in Britain for millennia, including a community associated with Methanobrevibacter, an anaerobic Archaea not commonly prevalent in the oral microbiome of modern industrialized societies. Calculus analysis suggests that oral hygiene contributed to oral microbiome composition, while microbial functions reflected past differences in diet, specifically in dairy and carbohydrate consumption. In London samples, Methanobrevibacter-associated microbial communities are linked with skeletal markers of systemic diseases (for example, periostitis and joint pathologies), and their disappearance is consistent with temporal shifts, including the arrival of the Second Plague Pandemic. This suggests pre-industrialized microbiomes were more diverse than previously recognized, enhancing our understanding of chronic, non-communicable disease origins in industrialized populations.
Topics: Adult; Humans; United Kingdom; Dental Calculus; Microbiota; Diet; Life Style
PubMed: 38030898
DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01527-3 -
Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2023Large scale data on the prevalence of diverse medical conditions among dog breeds in the United States are sparse. This cross-sectional study sought to estimate the...
INTRODUCTION
Large scale data on the prevalence of diverse medical conditions among dog breeds in the United States are sparse. This cross-sectional study sought to estimate the lifetime prevalence of medical conditions among US dogs and to determine whether purebred dogs have higher lifetime prevalence of specific medical conditions compared to mixed-breed dogs.
METHODS
Using owner-reported survey data collected through the Dog Aging Project (DAP) Health and Life Experience Survey for 27,541 companion dogs, we identified the 10 most commonly reported medical conditions in each of the 25 most common dog breeds within the DAP cohort. Lifetime prevalence estimates of these medical conditions were compared between mixed-breed and purebred populations. The frequency of dogs for whom no medical conditions were reported was also assessed within each breed and the overall mixed-breed and purebred populations.
RESULTS
A total of 53 medical conditions comprised the top 10 conditions for the 25 most popular breeds. The number of dogs for whom no medical conditions were reported was significantly different (p = 0.002) between purebred (22.3%) and mixed-breed dogs (20.7%). The medical conditions most frequently reported within the top 10 conditions across breeds were dental calculus (in 24 out of 25 breeds), dog bite (23/25), extracted teeth (21/25), osteoarthritis (15/25), and Giardia (15/25).
DISCUSSION
Purebred dogs in the DAP did not show higher lifetime prevalence of medical conditions compared to mixed-breed dogs, and a higher proportion of purebred dogs than mixed-breed dogs had no owner-reported medical conditions. Individual breeds may still show higher lifetime prevalence for specific conditions.
PubMed: 38026653
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1140417 -
Cureus Oct 2023Any instrumentation on the tooth surface for plaque or calculus removal will cause some amount of roughness on the tooth surface. Hence, this study was proposed to...
PURPOSE
Any instrumentation on the tooth surface for plaque or calculus removal will cause some amount of roughness on the tooth surface. Hence, this study was proposed to investigate the effects of hand and ultrasonic scaling and root planing on enamel and cementum, respectively.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Forty tooth samples were prepared from extracted maxillary and mandibular first pre-molars and were divided randomly into four groups of 10 samples each. Group l: received ultrasonic scaling on enamel; Group II: received hand scaling on enamel surface; Group III: root planing with an ultrasonic unit on the cementum samples; and Group IV: root planing using hand curettes on cementum surface. The amount of roughness produced on the surface of each sample of all four groups was evaluated using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and statistically analyzed using Chi-square, ANOVA, and Wilcoxon tests.
RESULTS
The results suggested that the surface roughness produced on both crown and root after scaling and root planing (SRP) using a hand instrument is lower than that of an ultrasonic unit. The roughness of the crown was found to be lower than that of the root after SRP using both a hand instrument and an ultrasonic unit and was also statistically significant (P = 0.034). In contrast, there is not enough evidence to conclude a significant difference (P=0.13) between root planing using hand instruments and ultrasonic scaler groups. The combined p-value using the Chi-square test (P=0.026) suggests a statistically significant overall difference between crown and root groups.
CONCLUSION
From the present study, the authors concluded that scaling as well as root planing using an ultrasonic unit cause more tooth (enamel and cementum) surface roughness as compared to hand scaling and root planing. While there is no significant difference in the surface roughness of root-cementum produced due to the root planing in both groups, crown-enamel exhibits a significant difference after scaling in both groups. Clinical significance of the study: Rough, uneven tooth surfaces negatively influence the anticipated healing of the periodontium by providing retention areas for microbial dental plaque.
PubMed: 38022287
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.46925 -
Journal of the American Veterinary... Dec 2023In the context of a study of Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis (EOTRH), elderly Icelandic horses were examined in their originating country. The...
OBJECTIVE
In the context of a study of Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis (EOTRH), elderly Icelandic horses were examined in their originating country. The subject of this survey was the impact of dental treatment and keeping and feeding management on the health of the rostral oral cavity.
ANIMALS
A total of 170 horses (aged ≥ 15) located in different areas of Northwest, West, and South Iceland.
METHODS
The horse owners completed a questionnaire about keeping, feeding, and preventative dental care. The horses were clinically examined with particular attention to gingival and dental disorders of the rostral mouth, such as gingivitis, fistula, gingiva retraction, enlargement of the roots and dental calculus as well as integrity of incisors, bite angle, and tooth mobility.
RESULTS
Most of the horses were kept on pasture all year with little supplementary feeding. The frequency of dental treatment in Iceland was low. Only a few horses were affected by tooth loss, gingivitis, gingival recession, and incisor calculus. Calculus occurred more frequently and more severely in canines than in incisors. The findings did not depend on the location of the horse.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Assuming that the remarkable health of the rostral oral cavity in elderly Icelandic horses was not caused by preventive dental care, it is likely that it was due to living conditions in Iceland. Continuity, intensity of chewing, and nativeness of forage might promote the health of incisors and tissue surrounding the tooth even in elderly horses.
Topics: Humans; Horses; Animals; Iceland; Oral Health; Horse Diseases; Gingivitis; Calculi
PubMed: 38016277
DOI: 10.2460/javma.23.06.0303 -
Children (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2023Health conditions in a developing state such as Ethiopia are precarious; in addition to the extreme spread of infectious diseases such as AIDS, oral health is also...
Health conditions in a developing state such as Ethiopia are precarious; in addition to the extreme spread of infectious diseases such as AIDS, oral health is also affected by the scarce knowledge and possibility of treatment. This analysis considered 77 children aged 7 to 11 from a primary school in Guraghe in Ethiopia. The presence of plaque, calculus, and caries was evaluated. For each caries, the affected tooth and the site of onset were considered. Plaque was detected in 39% of the children, calculus in 22%, and dental caries in 48% of the patients. The cavities were found to be equally distributed between the two arches, with a prevalence of location in the deciduous teeth and in the occlusal area. The implementation of home oral hygiene education and the training of health professionals who successfully promote oral health is necessary.
PubMed: 38002914
DOI: 10.3390/children10111824 -
Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2023Dental caries on the crown's surface is caused by the interaction of bacteria and carbohydrates, which then gradually alter the tooth's structure. In addition, calculus...
Dental caries on the crown's surface is caused by the interaction of bacteria and carbohydrates, which then gradually alter the tooth's structure. In addition, calculus is the root of periodontal disease. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been considered to be a promising tool for identifying dental caries; however, diagnosing dental caries in the early stage still remains challenging. In this study, we proposed an ultrahigh-resolution OCT (UHR-OCT) system with axial and transverse resolutions of 2.6 and 1.8 μm for differentiating the early-stage dental caries and calculus. The same teeth were also scanned by a conventional spectral-domain OCT (SD-OCT) system with an axial resolution of 7 μm. The results indicated that early-stage carious structures such as small cavities can be observed using UHR-OCT; however, the SD-OCT system with a lower resolution had difficulty identifying it. Moreover, the estimated surface roughness and the scattering coefficient of enamel were proposed for quantitatively differentiating the different stages of caries. Furthermore, the thickness of the calculus can be estimated from the UHR-OCT results. The results have demonstrated that UHR-OCT can detect caries and calculus in their early stages, showing that the proposed method for the quantitative evaluation of caries and calculus is potentially promising.
PubMed: 38002442
DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10111317 -
Sports (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2023The purpose of this study was to evaluate oral health knowledge, and the incidence of self-reported dental injuries incidence, the frequency of mouthguard use, oral...
OBJECTIVES/AIM
The purpose of this study was to evaluate oral health knowledge, and the incidence of self-reported dental injuries incidence, the frequency of mouthguard use, oral hygiene habits, and oral health status among professional water polo players.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
During the 2022/2023 season, 114 water polo players from the Croatian First League participated in a questionnaire-based online survey. The data collected included sociodemographic and professional attributes, oral health knowledge questions, dental injury experiences, and practices related to mouthguard use. Respondents also rated their own oral health status and oral hygiene habits. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a regression analysis.
RESULTS
The respondents demonstrated inadequate knowledge of oral health, with a mean score of 6.4 ± 2.6 out of 12. Better knowledge correlated positively with older age ( ˂ 0.05) and consistent flossing ( = 0.014). Additionally, 27.2% (31 of 114) of reported dental injuries were related directly to incidents which occurred while participating in water polo. These injuries occurred more frequently during games (54.8%) and often involved the anterior maxillary incisors (71.0%) due to player contact (87.1%). Awareness of mouthguards was high (93.9%), whereas their actual use was low (7.0%) because 35.1% of respondents reported discomfort wearing them. The respondents' self-assessments revealed widespread dental problems, including tooth sensitivity (13.3%), erosion (15.8%), calculus (28.1%), and pigmentation (7.9%).
CONCLUSIONS
The research results indicate a lack of adequate knowledge among the respondents regarding oral health. This deficit was not associated with oral hygiene habits or oral cavity conditions. These findings highlight the disparities in oral health awareness and practices associated with water polo participation and emphasize the importance of education and prevention efforts.
PubMed: 37999440
DOI: 10.3390/sports11110223 -
American Journal of Biological... Apr 2024Ancient human dental calculus is a unique, nonrenewable biological resource encapsulating key information about the diets, lifestyles, and health conditions of past... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
Ancient human dental calculus is a unique, nonrenewable biological resource encapsulating key information about the diets, lifestyles, and health conditions of past individuals and populations. With compounding calls its destructive analysis, it is imperative to refine the ways in which the scientific community documents, samples, and analyzes dental calculus so as to maximize its utility to the public and scientific community.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Our research team conducted an IRB-approved survey of dental calculus researchers with diverse academic backgrounds, research foci, and analytical specializations.
RESULTS
This survey reveals variation in how metadata is collected and utilized across different subdisciplines and highlights how these differences have profound implications for dental calculus research. Moreover, the survey suggests the need for more communication between those who excavate, curate, and analyze biomolecular data from dental calculus.
DISCUSSION
Challenges in cross-disciplinary communication limit researchers' ability to effectively utilize samples in rigorous and reproducible ways. Specifically, the lack of standardized skeletal and dental metadata recording and contamination avoidance procedures hinder downstream anthropological applications, as well as the pursuit of broader paleodemographic and paleoepidemiological inquiries that rely on more complete information about the individuals sampled. To provide a path forward toward more ethical and standardized dental calculus sampling and documentation approaches, we review the current methods by which skeletal and dental metadata are recorded. We also describe trends in sampling and contamination-control approaches. Finally, we use that information to suggest new guidelines for ancient dental calculus documentation and sampling strategies that will improve research practices in the future.
Topics: Humans; Dental Calculus; Metadata; Anthropology; Communication; Documentation
PubMed: 37994571
DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24871 -
Oral Diseases Nov 2023To explore the clinical epidemiological characteristics of oral lichen planus (OLP) and risk factors for erosive/ulcerative OLP.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the clinical epidemiological characteristics of oral lichen planus (OLP) and risk factors for erosive/ulcerative OLP.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Patients diagnosed with OLP from 11 different hospitals were included in the study. Descriptive statistical methods were used to explore the clinical epidemiological characteristics and logistic regression, sensitivity analysis, and subgroup analysis were utilized to explore the risk factors for erosive/ulcerative OLP.
RESULTS
The average age of patients was 49.2 ± 13.3 years, and 61.4% of the patients were women. The ratios of patients with reticular, hyperemic/erythematous, and erosive/ulcerative lesions were 47.9%, 27.8%, and 24.2%, respectively. Analysis of risk factors for erosive/ulcerative OLP identified the following variables: age, course of disease of 12 months or more, II°-III° dental calculus, hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease, as well as regions of habitation. Subgroup analysis showed significant differences in risk factors for erosive/ulcerative OLP in patients with and without risk behaviors.
CONCLUSION
The clinical epidemiological characteristics of patients with OLP in the Chinese population in this study are basically consistent with existing reports in developed countries. And we identified clinical characteristics associated with erosive/ulcerative OLP through clinical epidemiological analysis.
PubMed: 37994276
DOI: 10.1111/odi.14798