Prevalence of Dental Caries in Past European Populations: A Systematic Review

• Objective: Within the fields of anthropology and osteoarcheology, human teeth have long been studied to understand the diet, habits, and diseases of past civilizations. However, no complete review has been published to collect and analyze the extensive available data on caries prevalence in European man (Homo sapiens) over time. Method: In this current study, the two databases, Scopus and Art, Design, and Architecture Collection, were searched using predefined search terms. The literature was systematically reviewed and assessed by two of the authors. Results: The findings include a significant nonlinear correlation with increasing caries prevalence in European populations from 9000 BC to 1850 AD, for both the number of carious teeth and the number of affected individuals. Conclusion: Despite the well-established collective belief that caries rates fluctuate between different locations and time and the general view that caries rates have increased from prehistoric times and onwards, this is to our knowledge the first time this relationship has been proven based on published data.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Odontologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Dentistry (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Anthropology

Bioarcheology

Epidemiology

Europe

Systematic review

late-medieval population

oral-health

sex-differences

permanent

dentition

biocultural analysis

dietary patterns

nova-raca

age

skeletal

indicators

Dentistry

Oral Surgery & Medicine

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)