1. Introduction to History of Dentistry.pdf

Introduction to the History of Dentistry Pablo Gella Montero “The only guide to what lies ahead is the study of the Past” Malvin E. Ring History Definition HISTORY is the study of the human past as it is described in written documents left behind by humans. > Then, what about before writtings? T...

Introduction to the History of Dentistry Pablo Gella Montero “The only guide to what lies ahead is the study of the Past” Malvin E. Ring History Definition HISTORY is the study of the human past as it is described in written documents left behind by humans. > Then, what about before writtings? That is what we call PREHISTORY PREHISTORY HISTORY Rests at archaeological sites Records History Why is History important for us? 1. Storehouse and laboratory of information about people and societies War risk Economics Beliefs Decision-making Environmental risks Behaviour History Why is History important for us? 2. Understanding ‘Change’ Really? Am I here again? Linear (Western model) Cyclic (Eastern model) History Why is History important for us? 3. Elaboration of predictions Decisions I know are good for me Decisions I know by experience are bad for me History History vs Historiography HISTORY is the study of the human past as it is described in written documents left behind by humans. ? “He was the tallest person in the Empire” ? “He died of natural causes” HISTORIOGRAPHY is the writing of history based on the critical examination of sources, selecting specific details from the authentic materials (History of historical writing) Anthropology Definition ANTHROPOLOGY is the science that studies the human being PHYSICAL anthropology (The physical aspects of human communities) SOCIAL anthropology (The social and cultural manifestations of human communities) Dental Anthropology Specialty of physical anthropology that deals with knowing the social aspects of different human groups by analyzing the morphological variation present in the human dentition. Study of the teeth to know social and historical aspects of the individuals and their groups. Why we study human teeth? Main aspects of teeth as ‘object of study’  Preservability (Conservation)  Observability  Variability o Lineage o Ethnic group o Biological sex Why we study human teeth? Aspects of analysis Teeth are a valuable source of information in relation to the following aspects related to the social behaviour of human groups:  Hereditary Morphology: To estimate the genetic similarity between groups and individuals.  Odontometry: It allows to know relations between species of disappeared hominids and modern man. Why we study human teeth? Aspects of analysis  Pathology: To establish the conditions of oral health and disease and interruptions of normal growth in early stages Example: caries would be a direct indicator of the cultural evolution associated with food production. Its prevalence is associated with types of food, methods of preparing food, eating habits.  Wear: It provides information direct information on the diet that is used to solve problems associated with the technological and cultural development of ancient societies. Attrition/Abrasion. Example: greater wear in younger individuals if the technology in food preparation is incipient (hunter-gatherers) Why we study human teeth? Aspects of analysis  Development and growth: It provides information about sexual and generational differences in dental growth and shape. Important data about the biological age of death of the individual.  Cultural treatments: It provides information about corporal modifications, representation of beauty, status, power or position within the community but also health practices.  Analysis of phytoliths: Phytoliths are small silica structures in the dental calculus that allows to identify plants used as food and/or personal hygiene. With Dental Anthropology we study:  Origin and settlement: The dental information of hereditary origin is the basis of hypotheses about mobility and genetic distancing associated to regions and eras.  Quality of life: Caries, enamel hypoplasia, loss of teeth before death, calculation…can be a record of food and technological conditions as well as the existance or not of social marginalization.  Burial patterns: They allow ethnic and historical classification and provide demographic, adaptative and evolutionary data.  Human identification