Dear mimiky-ga ,
Palaeopathology is a study of the diseases of the past. An examination
of teeth provides evidence of the health of the person, and the
possibility of identifying specific diseases.
Teeth provide evidence of disruption in their growth due to
malnutrition, stress or illness. This disruption is known as Linear
Enamel Hypoplasia (LEH).
"Enamel Hypoplasia: A developmental disturbance of teeth characterised
by deficient or defective enamel matrix formation; may be hereditary,
as in amelogenesis imperfecta, or acquired, as encountered in dental
fluorosis, local infection, childhood fevers, and congenital
syphilis."
http://www.dictionarybarn.com/ENAMEL-HYPOPLASIA.php
This is an extract from a paper on the subject:
"Patterns of Linear Enamel Hypoplasis in Lithuanian Iron Age Population.
One of the mostly used unspecific indicators of stress is linear
enamel hypoplasia. Linear enamel hypoplasias (LEH) are defined as
horizontal lines or groves of decreased enamel thickness on the
external surface of the tooth
crown. LEH are probably result from disturbance of the enamel
formation during tooth crown development (Skinner, Goodman, 1992).
Such disturbances can be caused by factors that affect childís growth:
inherited and infectious disease, changes in dietary habits,
malnutrition, intoxication and others (Pindborg 1970). These factors
are believed interrupt enamel formation by affecting the activity of
ameloblasts."
http://var-and-evo.biol.uni.torun.pl/07_9.pdf
This is from an examination of bodies from Logan?s Fort, Kentucky. A
photograph of the tooth damage appears in the report.
"LEH are indicative of growth disruptions during the development of
the tooth during early childhood. In fact, these grooves represent
periods of acute stress which decreased or stopped production of an
unmineralized enamel matrix called enameloid by the ameloblasts (the
cells which produce the enamel crown of the tooth)[...]it appears that
the individual from Logan's Fort had experienced several stress
episodes during childhood. These episodes may have resulted from an
illness, malnutrition, trauma or any number of childhood maladies. An
examination of the correlated ages in Table 1 suggests that this
individual experienced annual stress episodes throughout their
childhood. Such a pattern could be indicative of a yearly malnutrition
episode or illness."
http://web.utk.edu/~herrmann/Logan/Loganleh.htm
Teeth also give an indication of dental health and dental diseases;
types of food prepared and eaten, and age of the person.
I hope this answers your question. If it does not, or the answer is
unclear, then please ask for clarification of this research before
rating the answer. I shall respond to the clarification request as
soon as I receive it.
Thank you
answerfinder
palaeopathology teeth
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?linear enamel hypoplasia?
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