A literature review and hypothesis for the etiologies of cervical and root caries

Grippo, John O.; Coleman, Thomas A.; Messina, Antonello Maria; Oh, Donghoon

doi:10.1111/jerd.12365

Cited by 10 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Its shape, depth, and position are analogous to clinical and archeological examples of root caries. Non‐carious cervical lesions from abrasion, erosion, or abfraction can appear superficially similar to root caries (Grippo, Coleman, Messina, & Oh, ; Towle, Irish, Elliott, & De Groote, ). However, the lesion is neither consistent with an etiology of abfraction nor erosion, in that it lacks both a smooth surface and “wedge‐shaped” appearance (Litonjua, Andreana, Bush, Tobias, & Cohen, ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Root caries on a Paranthropus robustus third molar from Drimolen

Towle

Riga

Irish

et al. 2019

American J Phys Anthropol

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Objectives: Dental caries is often perceived as a modern human disease. However, their presence is documented in many early human groups, various nonhuman primates and, increasingly, our hominin ancestors and relatives. In this study, we describe an antemortem lesion on the root of a Paranthropus robustus third molar from Drimolen, South Africa, which likely represents another example of caries in fossil hominins.Materials and Methods: The molar, DNH 40, is dated to 2.0-1.5 Ma and displays a lesion on the mesial root surface, extending from the cementoenamel junction 3 mm down toward the apex. The position and severity of the lesion was macroscopically recorded and micro-CT scanned to determine the extent of dentine involvement.Results: A differential diagnosis indicates root caries, as the lesion is indistinguishable from clinical examples. Although necrotic in appearance, external tertiary dentine is evident on a micro CT scan. Gingival recession and/or continuous eruption of the tooth as a result of extensive occlusal wear would have occurred to facilitate caries formation. Therefore, the lesion is likely linked to relative old age of this individual.Discussion: This new example increases the total number of carious lesions described in P. robustus teeth to 10, on occlusal, interproximal, and now, root surfaces. Beyond the consumption of caries-causing food, caries formation would have also required the presence of requisite intraoral cariogenic bacteria in this individual and the species. Of interest, the presence of tertiary dentine on the outward surface suggests the DNH 40 lesion may have been arrested, that is, no longer active, perhaps relating to a change in diet or oral microbiome just prior to the individual's death. K E Y W O R D Scaries, dental pathology, hominins, South Africa

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the lesion is neither consistent with an etiology of abfraction nor erosion, in that it lacks both a smooth surface and “wedge‐shaped” appearance (Litonjua, Andreana, Bush, Tobias, & Cohen, ). Abrasion is also unlikely, given the lesion's depth, shape and position in the overall dentition (Grippo et al, ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Root caries on a Paranthropus robustus third molar from Drimolen

Towle

Riga

Irish

et al. 2019

American J Phys Anthropol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Its shape, depth, and position is analogous to clinical and archaeological examples of root caries. Non-carious cervical lesions from abrasion, erosion or abfraction can appear superficially similar to root caries (Grippo et al, 2018;Towle et al, 2018). However, the lesion is neither consistent with an aetiology of abfraction nor erosion, in that it lacks both a smooth surface and 'wedge-shaped' appearance (Litonjua et al, 2003).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Abrasion is also unlikely, given the lesion's depth, shape and position in the overall dentition (Grippo et al, 2018).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The DNH 40 specimen displays a typical root caries pattern, i.e., spread out on the interproximal root surface and does not deeply penetrate the dentine (Carvalho and Lussi, 2017;Damé-Teixeira et al, 2017;Grippo et al, 2018). Grippo et al (2018) suggest that stress associated with mastication could be intensified at interproximal sites, which may contribute to caries formation there. The molar not only exhibits heavy occlusal wear, but deep cupping on the mesial occlusal surface and an antemortem chip below the caries ( Figure 1A/C).…”

Section: [Figure 1 Here]mentioning

confidence: 97%

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Root caries on aParanthropus robustusthird molar from Drimolen

Towle

Riga

Irish

et al. 2019

Preprint

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ObjectivesDental caries is often perceived as a modern human disease. However, their presence is documented in many early human groups, various non-human primates and, increasingly, our hominin ancestors and relatives. In this study we describe an antemortem lesion on the root of a Paranthropus robustus third molar from Drimolen, South Africa, which likely represents another example of caries in fossil hominins. Materials and MethodsThe molar, DNH 40, is dated to 2.0-1.5 Ma and displays a lesion on the mesial root surface, extending from the cementoenamel junction 3 mm down toward the apex. The position and severity of the lesion was macroscopically recorded and micro-CT scanned to determine the extent of dentine involvement. Results A differential diagnosis indicates root caries, as the lesion is indistinguishable from clinical examples.Although necrotic in appearance, external tertiary dentine is evident on a micro CT scan. Gingival recession and/or continuous eruption of the tooth as a result of extensive occlusal wear would have occurred to facilitate caries formation. Therefore, the lesion is likely linked to relative old age of this individual. DiscussionThis new example increases the total number of carious lesions described in P. robustus teeth to 12, on occlusal, interproximal and, now, root surfaces. Beyond the consumption of caries-causing food(s), caries formation would have also required the presence of requisite intra-oral cariogenic bacteria in this individual and the species. Of interest, the presence of tertiary dentine on the outward surface suggests the DNH 40 lesion may have been arrested, i.e., no longer active, perhaps relating to a change in diet or oral microbiome just prior to the individual's death.

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