Toothpicking and Periodontal Disease in a Neanderthal Specimen from Cova Foradà Site (Valencia, Spain)

Abstract

We present a Neanderthal maxilla (CF-1) from Cova Foradà site (Oliva, Valencia, Spain) with periodontal disease and evidence of attempts to alleviate pain with the use of a toothpick. Two interproximal grooves have been found on the distal surfaces of the upper left Pm3 and M1 of CF-1 maxilla. The location, morphology and size of the grooves coincide with other interproximal grooves found on the teeth of other fossil specimens. Heavy dental wear and periodontal disease would have caused the Cova Foradà Neanderthal specimen pain and discomfort, which the individual attempted to mitigate using some kind of dental probe.

Comparative analysis of dentognathic pathologies in the Dmanisi mandibles

“…In mid-to-late Pleistocene hominins such as the Neanderthals, dental pathologies are comparatively well documented (Smith 1976;Trinkaus 1978;Trinkaus 1985;Frayer and Russell 1987;Lalueza et al 1993;Tillier et al 1995;Skinner 1996;Trinkaus et al 2000;Lebel and Trinkaus 2002;Guatelli-Steinberg et al 2004;Walker et al 2011;Topić et al 2012;Lozano et al 2013;Lacy 2014a). A wide range of pathological features has been reported, from developmental defects such as linear enamel hypoplasia, to antemortem tooth loss, and in-vivo effects such as interproximal grooves reflecting the habitual use of toothpicks.…”

“…The specimens from Sima del Elefante (estimated to 1.3 MA) and Sima de los Huesos (0.3 MA) display a wide diversity of pathologies such as alveolar lytic lesions, hypercementosis and dental calculus (Martinon-Torres et al 2011), as well as periodontal disease, periapical infections, and even osteitis ). The Broken Hill maxillary dentition (0.3-0.125 MA) displays hypercementosis, multiple lesions of cariogenic origin, periodontal disease, and possible effects of hyposalivation (Koritzer and St Hoyme 1979;Puech et al 1980;Bartsiokas and Day 1993;Lacy 2014b).In mid-to-late Pleistocene hominins such as the Neanderthals, dental pathologies are comparatively well documented (Smith 1976;Trinkaus 1978;Trinkaus 1985;Frayer and Russell 1987;Lalueza et al 1993;Tillier et al 1995;Skinner 1996;Trinkaus et al 2000;Lebel and Trinkaus 2002;Guatelli-Steinberg et al 2004;Walker et al 2011;Topić et al 2012;Lozano et al 2013;Lacy 2014a). A wide range of pathological features has been reported, from developmental defects such as linear enamel hypoplasia, to antemortem tooth loss, and in-vivo effects such as interproximal grooves reflecting the habitual use of toothpicks.…”

“…Eventually, a gap forms between the tooth and the alveolar crest, thus loosening dental fixation (Ogden 2008). Periodontitis is also well documented in the fossil hominin record (Grine et al 1990; GraciaTéllez et al 2013;Lozano et al 2013).Antemortem tooth loss is a consequence of the eventual breakdown of the dentognathic structures as a long-term consequence of dental wear, infections and/or trauma. The sequence of tooth loss in modern human populations follows a specific pattern.…”

“…Eventually, a gap forms between the tooth and the alveolar crest, thus loosening dental fixation (Ogden 2008). Periodontitis is also well documented in the fossil hominin record (Grine et al 1990; GraciaTéllez et al 2013;Lozano et al 2013).…”

Calculated or caring? Neanderthal healthcare in social context

“…Many illnesses and injuries can be accommodated with self-care and selfprovisioning, such as minor dental problems, minor wounds or infections such as intestinal infections. Evidence of probable self-treatment, for example, comes from a Neanderthal tooth from Cova Foradà (Spain) showing attempts to treat periodontal disease with the use of a toothpick (Lozano et al 2013). Moreover, some care from others such as wound cleaning or minor shortterm food provisioning through begging is in any case common in apes in general (Hart 2011).…”