title: Determination and validation of criteria to define hypercementosis in two medieval samples from France (Sains-en-Gohelle, AD 7th-17th century; Jau-Dignac-et-Loirac, AD 7th-8th century).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main aim of this article was to develop different visual criteria allowing for an objective definition of hypercementosis (cementum hyperplasia). This preliminary study must notably show how to better understand at a later stage the significance of its frequency as well as its aetiologies, especially in past populations.
  
  
  METHODS
  we set up a study protocol (macroscopic and photographic observations) on material consisting of 2 medieval samples from France (1) Sains-en-Gohelle sample-SG (AD 7th-17th century; 407 individuals; 5756 teeth observed, 319 with hypercementosis) which was used to develop the different criteria for defining hypercementosis (2) Jau-Dignac-et-Loirac sample-JDL (AD 7th-8th century; 55 individuals; 709 teeth observed, 24 with hypercementosis) which was used to test the reproducibility of the criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From our observations we formulated different inclusion criteria with which to define hypercementosis objectively (k intraobserver≥0.96; k interobserver≥0.63). We were able to distinguish moderate (1m) and marked (1M) forms of diffuse hypercementosis, focal hypercementosis in the form of small knots (2m) or large nodules (2M), or excrescences in the form of ridges (3m) or spurs (3M). Different exclusion criteria were also determined.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The definition that we propose in this study are based on various statistically validated inclusion and exclusion criteria. It is hoped that this will improve the significance of hypercementosis. More generally, this would also give a better understanding of the dynamics of cementum apposition.
authors.affiliation: Université de Bordeaux, UFR des Sciences Odontologiques, 33082 Bordeaux Cedex, France; Université de Bordeaux, PACEA, UMR 5199, 33405 Talence Cedex, France. Electronic address: emmanuel.dincau@u-bordeaux.fr.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: d'Incau
authors.affiliation: Université de Bordeaux, PACEA, UMR 5199, 33405 Talence Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Couture
authors.affiliation: SARL Archéosphère, 33300 Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Natacha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Crépeau
authors.affiliation: SARL Archéosphère, 33300 Bordeaux, France; ANTEA, 68440 Habsheim, France.
authors.forename: Fanny
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chenal
authors.affiliation: SARL Archéosphère, 33300 Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Cédric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beauval
authors.affiliation: Université de Bordeaux, PACEA, UMR 5199, 33405 Talence Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vanderstraete
authors.affiliation: Université de Bordeaux, PACEA, UMR 5199, 33405 Talence Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maureille
mesh_terms: D005602:France; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D006936:Hypercementosis / Q000266:history* / Q000473:pathology*; D010161:Paleodontology
keywords: Cementum; Dental anthropology; Hypercementosis; Medieval; Review