title: Tooth wear pattern analysis in a sample of Italian Early Bronze Age population. Proposal of a 3-D sampling sequence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence, distribution and intensity of tooth wear in a sample of an ancient Italian population in order to explain the pattern in terms of dietary habits and/or non-dietary tooth-use behaviors during the Early Bronze Age, with a focus on possible age-group and sex differences.
  
  
  METHODS
  Well-preserved permanent teeth of individuals from the Bronze Age site of Ballabio (Lecco) in northern Italy were examined for tooth wear by different methods. Eight 3D models of teeth at increasing severity of wear were created.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 357 permanent teeth belonging to male and female individuals were included in the study. Dental wear was present in 96.6% of the total sample. Males showed significantly greater levels of wear than females in the mandibular teeth. Both sexes exhibited a significantly different wear direction between the anterior (oblique and flat) and posterior (oblique and concave) teeth. Significant age differences were observed in the direction and level of wear in the incisors, canines and premolars, with higher wear in the older group. Complete and rotatable virtual 3D images of different wear patterns are proposed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of the present study confirm the data from archaeological studies on this site and on northern Italian habits during the Early Bronze Age suggesting a diet rich in vegetables. The observed wear patterns can be related both to the diet of this Bronze age population, based on hard and abrasive food requiring vigorous mastication, and to sex differences in cultural practices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Surgical Specialties, University of Ferrara, Corso Ercole I D'Este, 32, Ferrara 44121, Italy. Electronic address: emanuela.gualdi@unife.it.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Masotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Surgical Specialties, University of Ferrara, Corso Ercole I D'Este, 32, Ferrara 44121, Italy.
authors.forename: Nika
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bogdanic
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Sciences, University of Ferrara, Corso Ercole I D'Este, 32, Ferrara 44121, Italy.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arnaud
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, via Luigi Borsari, 46, Ferrara 44121, Italy.
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cervellati
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Surgical Specialties, University of Ferrara, Corso Ercole I D'Este, 32, Ferrara 44121, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gualdi-Russo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001519:Behavior; D004032:Diet / Q000208:ethnology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D007558:Italy; D008019:Life Style / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D010161:Paleodontology / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014070:Tooth / Q000473:pathology; D057085:Tooth Wear / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000266:history* / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Bronze Age; Digital 3D models; Italy; Tooth wear