The prevalence and pattern of distribution of root caries were determined in a Scottish Medieval population. The principal finding was a lower root caries prevalence, compared with that of modern times, with respect to surfaces at risk; this was particularly marked with respect to buccal root caries. A lower intake of refined sugars and the presence of heavy deposits of supragingival calculus are suggested as factors that may be responsible for the observed differences.
The common site for the early root caries lesion was just apical to the enamel-cementum junction. Initially, it extended laterally in the form of an elliptical erosion; however, the greater the depth of the lesion, the more circular the outline became.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Banting, D.W. and Courtright, P.N. (1975): Distribution and Natural History of Carious Lesions on the Roots of Teeth, J Can Dent Assoc41:45-49.
2.
Brothwell, D.R. (1959): Teeth in Earlier Human Populations, Proc Nutr Soc18:59-65.
3.
Brothwell, D.R. (1983): The Macroscopic Dental Pathology of some Earlier Human Populations. In: Dental Anthropology , D.R. Brothwell, Ed., London: Pergamon Press, pp. 271-288.
4.
Corbett, E. and Moore, W.J. (1976): Distribution of Dental Caries in Ancient British Populations, IV. The 19th Century, Caries Res10:401-414.
5.
Costa, R.L. (1982): Periodontal Disease in the Prehistoric Ipiutak and Tigara Skeletal Remains from Point Hope, Alaska, Am J Phys Anthropol59:97-110.
6.
Cross, J.F. (1988): The Skeletal Biology of Two Late Mediaeval Populations from Eastern Scotland, Ph.D. Thesis, University of Aberdeen , pp. 48-60.
7.
Cross, J.F. and Bruce, M.F. (1989): The Human Burials. In: Three Scottish Carmelite Friaries: Excavations in Aberdeen, Linlithgow and Perth 1980-1986. No. 6 Monograph Series of Soc of Antiqu of Scot, J.A. Stones, Ed., Oxford: Oxbow, pp. 199-232.
8.
Darling, A.I. and Lever, B.G.H. (1975): The Pattern of Eruption of some Human Teeth, Arch Oral Biol20:89-96.
9.
Katz, R.V.; Hazen, S.P.; Chilton, N.W.; and Mumma, R.D. (1982): Prevalence and Intraoral Distribution of Root Caries in an Adult Population, Caries Res16:265-271.
10.
Katz, R.V. (1984): Development of an Index for the Prevalence of Root Caries, J Dent Res63:814-818.
11.
Kerr, N.W. (1988): Diet and Attrition, Scott Med J33:313-314.
12.
Kerr, N.W.; Bruce, M.F.; and Cross, J.F. (1988): Caries Experience in the Permanent Dentition of Late Mediaeval Scots (1300-1600 A.D.), Arch Oral Biol33:143-148.
13.
Hardwick, J.L. (1960): The Incidence and Distribution of Caries throughout the Ages in Relation to the Englishman's Diet, Br Dent J108:9-17.
14.
Hix, J.O. and O'Leary, T.J. (1976): The Relationship between Cemental Caries, Oral Hygiene Status and Fermentable Carbohydrate Intake, J Periodontol47:398-404.
15.
Lavelle, C.L.B. (1972): Maxillary and Mandibular Tooth Size in Different Racial Groups and in Different Occlusal Categories, Am J Orthod61:29-37.
16.
Lunt, D.A. (1974): The Prevalence of Dental Caries in the Permanent Dentition of Scottish Prehistoric and Mediaeval Populations, Arch Oral Biol19:431-437.
17.
Miles, A.E.W. (1962): Assessment of the Ages of a Population of Anglo-Saxons from their Dentitions, Proc R Soc Med55:881-886.
18.
Miles, A.E.W. (1969): The Dentition of the Anglo-Saxons, Proc R Soc Med62:1311-1315.
19.
Moore, W.J. and Corbett, M.E. (1973): The Distribution of Dental Caries in Ancient British Populations. 11. Iron Age, Romano-British and Mediaeval Periods, Caries Res7:139-153.
20.
Moore, W.J. and Corbett, M.E. (1975): Distribution of Dental Caries in Ancient British Populations. 11. The 17th Century , Caries Res9:163-175.
21.
Poole, D.F.G. and Tratman, E.K. (1978): Post-mortem Changes in Human Teeth from Late Upper Paleolithic/Mesolithic Occupants of English Limestone Caves, Arch Oral Biol23:1115-1120.
22.
Swardstedt, T. (1966): Odontological Aspects of a Medieval Population in the Province of Jamtland/Mid-Sweden, Diss Lund, Ed., Stockholm: Tiden-Barnangen Tryckerier, p. 35.
23.
Sumney, D.L.; Jordan, H.V.; and Englander, H.R. (1973): The Prevalence of Root Caries in Selected Populations , J Periodontol44:500-504.
24.
Ubelaker, D. (1978): Human Skeletal Remains, Chicago : Aldine Publishing Co, pp. 41-55.
25.
Whittaker, D.K.; Molleson, T.; Bennett, R.B.; Ed-Wards, I.; Jenkins, P.R.; and Llewelyn, J.H. (1981): The Prevalence and Distribution of Dental Caries in a Romano-British Population, Arch Oral Biol26:237-245.
