Dental disease in the 19th century Dutch population of Middenbeemster

This thesis compares the dental pathologies of fifty individuals from a 19th century Dutch rural cemetery divided in even groups of men and women, and four age categories. Between these groups the amounts of ante-mortem tooth loss, caries, calculus, attrition and activity-related wear were examined. The results are that ante-mortem tooth loss was relatively high even under thirty-five years of age, while no significant differences between the sexes were visible. Caries amounts were significantly high among women, but in the comparison between age groups only the early young adults seemed to be affected less than the other three age groups. Calculus deposits were significantly higher among men and went up from the early young adults to the late young adults but then lowered again towards the middle and old adults, probably as a result of ante-mortem tooth loss in these groups. Attrition rates were significantly higher among men and across the age groups a slight increase in attrition...Show moreThis thesis compares the dental pathologies of fifty individuals from a 19th century Dutch rural cemetery divided in even groups of men and women, and four age categories. Between these groups the amounts of ante-mortem tooth loss, caries, calculus, attrition and activity-related wear were examined. The results are that ante-mortem tooth loss was relatively high even under thirty-five years of age, while no significant differences between the sexes were visible. Caries amounts were significantly high among women, but in the comparison between age groups only the early young adults seemed to be affected less than the other three age groups. Calculus deposits were significantly higher among men and went up from the early young adults to the late young adults but then lowered again towards the middle and old adults, probably as a result of ante-mortem tooth loss in these groups. Attrition rates were significantly higher among men and across the age groups a slight increase in attrition rates was visible. Activity-related wear was high in men with more than 90% of all individuals presenting signs of wear, especially due to clay pipe smoking resulting in pipe notches. Three women also showed clear signs of pipe notches due to smoking clay pipes. In contrast to earlier results there seems to be a slight statistical correlation between the total amount of caries and the amount of wear, a small negative correlation between the amount of caries and the average rate of attrition per individual and a small positive correlation between attrition and activity related wear. The previously discussed data also gives a few clues toward the diet of both men and women. Women were probably more likely to eat sweets and sugary foods than men due to their large amount of caries while men were likely to eat starchy foods such as bread that were also abrasive resulting in higher rates of calculus and attrition. The general state of oral health is difficult to ascertain but it is clear that calculus, caries and attrition rates were high while not so much attention was given to cleaning the teeth or visiting a physician to have sick teeth pulled.Show less

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Dental disease in the 19th century Dutch population of Middenbeemster