Investigating the dentoalveolar complex in archaeological human skull specimens: Additional findings with large volume micro‐CT compared to standard methods

Abstract

Archaeological investigation of the dentoalveolar complex in situ within a human skull requires detailed measurements using non-invasive techniques. Standard macroscopic and radiographic methods have limitations but large volume micro-computed tomography (LV micro-CT) scanning has the potential to acquire data at high resolution in microns. In this study, archaeological specimens are analyzed using three-dimensional data visualization software from LV micro-CT scans with the aims of (1) determining whether LV micro-CT can act as a single technique to provide detailed analysis of the dentoalveolar complex and (2) how findings from the LV micro-CT technique compare with standard methods. These aims are explored by measuring a range of human skull specimens from a rare archaeological sample requiring non-invasive methods, for multiple dental and alveolar bone health categories. The LV micro-CT technique was the only method to provide a full range of detailed measurements across all categories studied. A combination of macroscopic and radiographic techniques covered a number of categories, but the use of multiple methods was more time consuming, did not provide the same level of accuracy, and did not include all measurements. There were high levels of reproducibility for intra-operator scoring and good inter-operator agreement from four operators with one operator whose results were outliers. As a further investigation of the potential of the LV micro-CT technique, an additional individual, a fragile, fragmented skull of an infant was studied. This investigation confirms the value of LV micro-CT scanning as a non-invasive, accurate, single technique for the extensive analysis of the dentoalveolar complex within archaeological skulls, which also allows the relationship of different tissues to be studied in situ.

The Oral Health of a Group of 19th Century South Australian Settlers in Relation to Their General Health and Compared With That of Contemporaneous Samples

“…The validity and reproducibility of methods used here, for the investigation of bone and dental samples using LV and SV Micro-CT systems had been established [21]. The methods used in this study are non-invasive, as required for rare archaeological specimens such as the St Mary's sample.…”

“…The 2D and 3D high-resolution images were produced from the reconstructed LV and SV Micro-CT scan data sets. These provided information that could not be obtained by the standard macroscopic and radiological investigations (Fig 5) [21]. For large specimens such as the dentoalveolar complex in situ within the human skull where minimal handling is required, the LV Micro-CT scanner is ideal.…”

“…This technique allowed the examination of 'large 'specimens such as dentitions that remain in situ within the skull that require minimal handling. This method provides rapid data acquisition at a high resolution of both external and internal structures [21]. The dentoalveolar complexes in situ within the skulls of six individuals (2 adults, SMB 66B, SMB 73; 2 subadults, SMB 04A, SMB 52B, and 2 infants SMB 58, SMB 82) were scanned using the Nikon XT H 225 ST cabinet Micro-CT scanning system [22].…”

“…While the LV Micro-CT technique is ideal for high-resolution analysis of dentition in situ within archaeological human skull samples [21] the cost of this micro-CT system limited the number of individuals from the St Mary's sample that were scanned. The number of isolated individual tooth samples available for SV Micro-CT scanning from the St Mary's sample was also a limitation.…”

The Oral Health of a Group of 19th Century South Australian Settlers in Relation to Their General Health and Compared with That of Contemporaneous Samples

“…This technique allowed for the examination of ‘large ‘specimens such as dentitions that remain in situ within the skull that require minimal handling. This method provides rapid data acquisition at a high resolution of both the external and internal structures [ 21 ]. The dentoalveolar complexes in situ within the skulls of six individuals (two adults, SMB 66B and SMB 73; two subadults, SMB 04A and SMB 52B; and two infants SMB 58 and SMB 82) were scanned using the Nikon XT H 225 ST cabinet Micro-CT scanning system [ 22 ].…”