title: Pattern of dental caries in the historical human population of Kujawy in the Polish lowland (north-central Poland).
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the dental caries rates in the skeletal human population who lived in north-central Poland in modern times (16th-18th century). The material consisted of 297 skeletons (4,783 permanent teeth) from the archeological site of K. Compared material was coming from two different sites located in the same region: early mediaeval Kolonia--39 skeletons and Swiety Duch (dating to the same historical period as K population)--417 skeletons. All three series are part of the osteological collection of the Department of Anthropology. For each skeletal sample, caries rates were calculated by individual (frequency index) and by tooth count (intensity index). Dental caries was scored also according to a procedure in which the initiation sites are recorded. The highest frequency of dental caries was observed in Swiety Duch (70%) and the lowest in the early mediaeval sample (almost 59%). The intensity of caries fluctuated from above 8% observed in Kolonia to 22% observed in the sample from Swiety Duch. However, in all three samples the caries initiation site was most often noticed on fissure and pits (type 1) the K population was characterised by a different caries pattern (chi2=17.88, p<0.05 when compared with that of Kolonia; chi2=218.73, p<0.01 when compared with that of Swiety Duch), which could be the effect of diet (high frequency of CEJ caries probably means starch-rich plant food diet), oral hygiene, fluoride level, economic status or genetic factors (resistance/sensitivity to cariogenic bacteria).
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurek
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Borowska-Strugińska
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mazurkiewicz
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nieczuja-Dwojacka
authors.forename: Elżbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Żądzińska
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D004037:Diet, Cariogenic; D005260:Female; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008963:Molar / Q000473:pathology*; D010161:Paleodontology; D010164:Paleopathology; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult