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Artefacts & Environmental Evidence: The Human Bone

Malin Holst HND BA MSc

introduction | osteological analysis | palaeopathological analysis | dental pathology | discussion & summary

introduction | post-mortem tooth loss | ante-mortem tooth loss | wear | cavities | plaque | peridontal disease | abscesses | enamel hypoplasia | trauma | anomalies | cremated | disarticulated | conclusion

4.2 Post-Mortem Tooth Loss

Teeth are frequently lost in the burial environment once the soft tissues which hold the teeth in the jaw start to decay. The single-rooted anterior teeth are more likely to be lost than multi-rooted teeth, as these are more securely anchored in the jaw. A total of 9% of teeth were lost post-mortem, the majority of which were deciduous (milk teeth), incisors and canines, as well as permanent incisors.

The prevalence of post-mortem tooth loss was highest in juveniles (50%), and mature adults (16%), which may be attributed to two different factors: juveniles were likely loose teeth as a result of the root resorption of deciduous teeth once the permanent teeth had started to erupt, therefore causing loosening of the deciduous teeth (Table 50). Mature adults, however, were likely to loose more teeth than younger adults, due to the increasing severity of periodontal disease in older age. The lowest tooth loss was observed in the adolescents (3%) and young adults (4%).

Table 50: Summary of dental pathology per individual with teeth
Pathology Male Female Undetermined Non-adult permanent teeth Total
No. % No. % No. % No. % No. %
PM loss 28 70.0 23 67.6 3 100.0 50 64.1 104 67.0
AM loss 27 67.5 26 76.4 1 33.3 4 5.1 58 37.4
Cavities 19 47.5 23 67.6 2 66.6 10 12.8 54 34.8
Tartar 38 95.0 34 100.0 3 100.0 22 28.2 97 62.6
DEH 24 60.0 30 88.2 2 66.6 25 32.0 81 52.2
Abscesses 20 50.0 16 47.0 0 0 0 0 36 23.2
Infractions 18 450 11 32.3 0 0 11 14.1 40 25.8
Periodontitis 38/41 92.7 32/35 91.4 2/3 66.6 3/76 4.0 75/159 49.0

Periodontitis was present in 50% of individuals with extant jaws, and can cause resorption of the bone surrounding the teeth (alveolar bone), leading to decreasing support for the teeth and therefore increased tooth loss. The adolescent and young adult group suffered from limited periodontal disease, making them least prone to post-mortem tooth loss. Adults of undetermined sex were usually incomplete as a result of later disturbance, a factor which also caused greater post-mortem tooth loss in this group (Table 49).

Table 49: Summary of dental pathology per tooth/tooth socket
Pathology Male Female Undetermined Subadult permanent Subadult deciduous Total
No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. %
Positions 1123 30.5 973 26.5 70 2 625 17 889 24 3680 100
Total teeth 768 68.3 700 71.9 55 78.6 549 88 595 66.9 3031 82.3
PM loss 70 6.2 51 5.2 10 14.2 35 5.6 175 19.7 341 9.2
AM loss 245 21.8 171 17.6 3 4.2 1 0.2 21 2.3 441 12
Cavities 62 12.4 73 10.4 2 3.6 6 1 11 1.8 154 5
Tartar 563 73.3 531 75.9 30 54.5 192 35 30 5 1346 44.4
DEH 173 22.5 206 29.4 12 21.8 166 30.2 12 2 569 18.8
Abscesses 77 6.8 61 6.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 138 3.8
Infractions 41 5.3 32 4.6 2 3.6 0 0 0 0 209 6.9
PM breaks 12 1.5 1 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 0.4
Impacted 1 0.01 0 0 0 0 1 0.2 0 0 2 0.05
Not present 12 1 18 2 2 2.9 0 0 0 0 32 0.9

apc > monographs > blue bridge lane & fishergate house > artefacts & environmental > human bone: dental pathology

Spall, C. A. and Toop, N. J. (eds.). 2005. Blue Bridge Lane & Fishergate House, York. Report on Excavations: July 2000 to July 2002
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