Yugoslav Mesolithic dental reduction

Abstract

Yugoslav Mesolithic dentition exhibits maximum mesiodistal reduction compared with contemporary European and North African groups. This reduction is not explained entirely by attrition, and may be seen as a continuation of the European Upper Paleolithic trend. Buccolingual dimension does not reduce as much. In fact, this dimension in premolars and molars is larger than in other groups. This observation also occurs in Natufians, who were grain collectors, hunters, and gatherers. The Yugoslav Mesolithic group was collecting and domesticating Cerelia as well as fishing and hunting. Linear enamel hypoplasias (LEH) indicate childhood stress through the fifth year, which corroborates previously reported incidence of rickets in this group. The central maxillary incisors and canines manifest higher degrees of LEH, but the appearance on the second molars suggest a more severe physiological disruption. Sex differences in distributions of alveolar resorption and calculus suggest differences in diet or nutritional stress. Previous reports indicate that females had higher incidence of osteomalacia. If so, female nutritional stress may explain the extreme mesiodistal reduction and minimal sexual dimorphism in this group.

First molar size and wear within and among modern hunter-gatherers and agricultural populations

“…Although previous authors have proposed that agriculturalists would show reduced tooth size (Hinton et al, 1980;Larsen, 1995;Y'Edynak, 1989), this idea is not clearly reflected in our results, as Agta and San, who are typical hunting and gathering groups, have smaller teeth than Navajo, who have an agro-pastoral subsistence pattern. This inconsistency suggests that genetic factors determine dental size, rather than external or environmental influences (Dempsey et al, 1999;Garn et al, 1977).…”

“…Dental wear reduction is an evolutionary trend that is usually associated with the implementation of new technologies and methods of food processing and dietary changes (Hinton et al, 1980;Larsen, 1995;Y'Edynak, 1989). These studies revealed a relationship between this trend and the decline of the nutritional status of foods consumed in agricultural populations, which reduced maternal health status and resulted in smaller permanent teeth in children (Larsen, 1995).…”

The microscopic (optical and SEM) examination of dental calculus deposits (DCD). Potential interest in forensic anthropology of a bio-archaeological method

“…Nevertheless, it seems that the distribution of this bacterial species was related neither to the food mode, nor to the conditions of life [21]; this observation is opposed to that of a Mesolithic bone collection from Yugoslavia that showed sex differences of calculus and dental wear distribution revealing different food modes [22]. Dental calculus was found particularly frequent in a population of the Bronze Age (2000 years B.C.)…”

Sex differences in periodontal disease in catastrophic and attritional assemblages from medieval london

“…During the middle ages, some physicians understood the etiology of gum disease. For example, in the Ottoman Empire, the physician Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu recognized calculus deposits as a risk factor for periodontal disease and the need to remove them via scaling (Yilmaz et al,1994). However, according to Yilmaz et al (1994), even though the benefits of such procedures were understood during the middle ages, they were rarely performed.…”

“…For example, in the Ottoman Empire, the physician Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu recognized calculus deposits as a risk factor for periodontal disease and the need to remove them via scaling (Yilmaz et al,1994). However, according to Yilmaz et al (1994), even though the benefits of such procedures were understood during the middle ages, they were rarely performed. Anderson (2004) describes various dental care practices that were recommended in medieval literature.…”