Dental Anthropology and Paleopathology PDF

Dental anthropology and Paleopathology Dental Anthropology and Paleopathology OBJECTIVES The objectives of this lecture are the following: - To know the origin and evolution of the teeth. - To understand the importance of dental archeological rests to know dental pathologies. - To relate the...

Dental anthropology and Paleopathology Dental Anthropology and Paleopathology OBJECTIVES The objectives of this lecture are the following: - To know the origin and evolution of the teeth. - To understand the importance of dental archeological rests to know dental pathologies. - To relate the study of historical remains to the technological and cultural evolution of society. - To know the fundamental aspects in the dental treatments of the archaic cultures Dental Anthropology Dental anthropology is the specialty of physical anthropology that studies human social behaviour through the traces that man leaves on his teeth. Human teeth are studied for preservability, observability and variability. Problems addressed by dental anthropology Origin and Population Quality of life Burial patterns Human identification The study of hereditary dental characteristics helps to understand the genetic mobility and distance associated with regions and periods. Dental Anthropology Dental anthropology is the specialty of physical anthropology that studies human social behaviour through the traces that man leaves on his teeth. Human teeth are studied for preservability, observability and variability. Problems addressed by dental anthropology Origin and Population Quality of life Burial patterns Human identification Caries, hypoplasia of the enamel, loss of teeth before death, dental calculus, etc..., can be a record of the food and technological conditions of a specific period, as well as evidence of the existence or not of social marginalisation. Dental Anthropology Dental anthropology is the specialty of physical anthropology that studies human social behaviour through the traces that man leaves on his teeth. Human teeth are studied for preservability, observability and variability. Problems addressed by dental anthropology Origin and Population Quality of life Burial patterns Human identification It allows for ethnic and historical classifications and provide demographic, adaptive and evolutionary data. Dental Anthropology Dental anthropology is the specialty of physical anthropology that studies human social behaviour through the traces that man leaves on his teeth. Human teeth are studied for preservability, observability and variability. Problems addressed by dental anthropology Origin and Population Quality of life Burial patterns The information obtained by the study of the above topics, together with the specific records of different structures of the oral cavity such as palatal rugae and especially the teeth, facilitate the process of human and forensic identification. Human identification Dental development and evolution Dentition is an impact factor in the survival of all animals with teeth. Technological advances made by Homo habilis and Homo erectus reduced this impact. This contributed to the separation of the genetic and morphological variability of the stomatognathic system from Darwinian natural selection. Homo habilis Homo erectus Dental development and evolution Teeth are formed from different elements of the skin. Predecessors of our teeth: Corneal appendages or teeth Unicelular structures. Microscopic epidermal structures with significant keratin accumulation. Analogues to teeth (function). Dental development and evolution Teeth are formed from different elements of the skin. Predecessors of our teeth: Odontodes Mollusk radula (tongue) Hard formations in the form of keratinizations. Widely represented (shape, hardness...). Analogues to teeth (function). Cetacean bearded throat Birds’ beak Dental development and evolution Teeth are formed from different elements of the skin. Predecessors of our teeth: Placoid scales Placoid scales are dermal (+ epidermal) structures composed of an inner vascular nucleus (pulp), a middle layer of dentin, and a thick outer layer of enameloid. They are considered homologous to the teeth. They do not share the same function (protective). Dental development and evolution Predecessors of reptilian cones (homodonts). Dental development and evolution Odontodes, or dermal teeth, are hard structures found on the external surfaces of animals or near internal openings. They consist of a soft pulp surrounded by dentine and covered by a mineralized substance such as enamel, a structure similar to that of teeth Outside-in: teeth are derived from skin odontodes (dermal denticles) that came to reside within the oral cavity when competent odontodeforming cells invaded the latter in conjunction with the origin of jaws Inside- out: teeth evolved prior to the origin of jaws, with oral teeth being coopted from endodermally derived pharyngeal denticles Dental development stages 1 - Reptilian dentition 2 - Tritubercular dentition 3 - Anthropomorphic simians 4 - Homo habilis 5 - Homo erectus 6 - Man today Mammalian dentition Dental development stages Reptilian dentition: conical teeth First true teeth - 250 million years ago - All teeth are equal (homodoncy) - Function of the teeth: to hold and tear food. - With reptile evolution, the first dental types appear. Dental development stages Reptilian dentition (homodont) vs Mammalian dentition (heterodont) Reptilian dentition is homodont (uniform, single-cusped, conical teeth) and polyphyodonty (multiple generations of teeth). Mammalian dentition is heterodont (four types of teeth, each performing different functions) and biphyodont (only two generation of teeth, primary and permanent). Dental development stages First mammals: tritubercular dentition Tritubercular dentition - 200 million years ago - Three cusps, antagonist occlusion (high masticatory efficiency) - Heterodont - Sexual dimorfism Dental development stages Anthropomorfic simians: cuatritubercular dentition First simians 70-65 million years: cuatritubercular dentition. They still show primitive craniodental features - Robust jaws with no chin: maxillo-mandibular prognatism. - Flat palate. - U-shaped dental arch. - Large teeth with a thin layer of enamel. - Powerful canines dimorphism. with marked sexual Dental development stages Homo habilis: technological developmet: ability to build tools with their hands. - Skull development. - Less robust jaws with smaller teeth - Smaller size of the dental arch which widens in an anterior-posterior direction, more parabolic shape. - The development of the occlusal planes begins. - Canines more vertical. - Thickness of enamel similar to current man. Dental development stages Homo erectus The use of fire is an essential milestone that influences its characteristics: - Loss of dental prominence. - Parabolic arches. - Less facial prognathism. - Smaller and more robust skull bones. - The reduction in dental size and complexity begins: teeth lose their vital role. - The process of molarisation begins. Dental development stages Man today - Standing upright (bipedestation) favoured an increase in brain size - Dental reduction influenced by the use of the hand and speech. Why we study human teeth? Main aspects of teeth as ‘object of study’ Ø Preservability (Conservation) Ø Observability Ø Variability o Lineage o Ethnic group o Biological sex Caucasian ethnicity Converge towards distal Asian ethnicity African ethnicity Parallel lines Diverge towards mesial 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: Ø Hereditary Morphology: To estimate the genetic similarity between groups and individuals. Ø Odontometry: It allows to know relations between species of disappeared hominids and modern man. Why we study human teeth? Aspects of analysis Ø 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. Ø 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 Dental indicators of ancient dietary patterns: Dental analysis in archaeology. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/public ation/262190039_Dental_indicators_ of_ancient_dietary_patterns_Dental_ analysis_in_archaeology Why we study human teeth? Aspects of analysis Ø 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. Ø Cultural treatments: It provides information about corporal modifications, representation of beauty, status, power or position within the community but also health practices. Ø Analysis of phytoliths: Phytoliths are small silica structures in the dental calculus that allows to identify plants used as food and/or personal hygiene. Paleopathology Definition • The science of diseases that can be studied in the human and animal remains of ancient times (Ruffer) • The science that studies the diseases of our ancestors in the past (Rojlin) SOURCES FOR THE STUDY OF THESE DISEASES PRIMARY Anatomical materials. Human remains (Bone, 90% and Skin, 10%). Organic impressions. SECONDARY They complement the information of the previous ones. Artistic representations, surgical instruments. COMPARATIVE STUDIES COMPARATIVE PALEOPATHOLOGY Study of the current primitive peoples. These studies are based on the consideration that the same situations throughout history have provoked the same reactions. For example: The Neolithic Revolution occurred in Europe between the years 9000 - 6000 a.C. In America the same process and with the same characteristics occurs 3000 years later without there being any type of communication between them. Paleopathology Research methods 1. Macroscopic examination. 2. Microscopic examination. 3. Radiological studies. 4. Paleomicrobiology. 5. Serological studies (in mummies). 6. Biochemical studies. 7. Studies on primates Age + Sex + Pathologies Paleodontology ANALYSIS Age dating Diet analysis Following the chronology of the tooth eruption Through the study of dietary indicators The information obtained by paleodontology can be used for the study of anomalies in bone and dental development Strontium Reveals a vegetable-rich diet. Caries. Zinc Reveals a proteinrich diet. Calculus. Paleodontopathology Anomalies BONE Developmental defects. Skeletal malocclusions. LOSS OF DENTAL HARD TISSUE Tooth decay Atrittion, abrasion, erosión Root resorption Dental trauma CYSTIC AND TUMOUR INFLAMMATORY ALTERATIONS Signs of periodontal pathology Signs of abscesses or cysts Signs of benign or malignant tumours TMJ ALTERATIONS Arthritis or osteoarthritis MISCELLANEOUS Bone trauma Human intervention: Tooth filings and tooth fillings, Mutilations, Gemstone inlays, Prosthetic and orthodontic devices/protheses Paleodontopathology Anomalies DENTAL Position: malpositions, retentions. Form: taurodontism, conoidism Volume: macrodontology, microdontology Number: Supernumerary, agenesis Structural: Dysplasia, enamel pearls, Hypercementosis Paleodontopathology Caries and tooth decay STONE AGE PALEOLITHIC (2.5 mil – 12000 b.C.E.) ? MESOLITHIC (12000 – 8000 b.C.E.) NEOLITHIC (8000 – 5000 b.C.E.) Caries Why does man seem to be immune to tooth decay during the Paleolithic period? 1 Raw food-consumption during Paleolithic period Fluorine in food, together with calcium phosphate, produces crystalline fluorapatite, a substance that is highly resistant to acid action. During the Neolithic period, food cooking started and thus, elimination of food derived fluorine. Fluorapatite is not formed, so teeth were more sensitive to acid corrosion. Paleodontopathology Caries and tooth decay STONE AGE PALEOLITHIC (2.5 mil – 12000 b.C.E.) ? MESOLITHIC (12000 – 8000 b.C.E.) NEOLITHIC (8000 – 5000 b.C.E.) Caries Why does man seem to be immune to tooth decay during the Paleolithic period? 2 Bacteriological mutation Since food was eaten raw in the Mesolithic period, a possible bacteriological mutation is thought to be the explanation. Paleodontopathology Paleodontological findings in Spain ATAPUERCA: Paleolithic. Homo preneandertalis. In study. Middle Pleistocene. • Mandibular prognathism • Enamel hypoplasia is considered associated with a lack of quality in food and certain infectious diseases as a result of this nutritional deficit. • Hypercementosis. • Use of the hand. They were not ambidextrous. Paleodontopathology Let’s do paleodontolpathology! - Is this the upper or lower dental arch? - How many teeth are missing? Paleodontopathology Let's do paleodontolology! - Is this the upper or lower dental arch? - What signs of wear do you see? What could we relate them to? - What signs of other pathologies do you observe? Paleodontopathology Let's do paleodontolology!