[Tooth abrasion in the historic populations of Broumov].

Abstract

Aging is accompanied by a natural decrease of the hard dental tissues. Occlusal and incisal tooth abrasion occurs during the normal mastication. In the study, the collection of 717 adult and child skulls without mandibles, and 518 isolated adult and child mandibles from the "Broumov Ossuary" (13th-18th century)--the Czech Republic was examined for the study of tooth abrasion. In the skulls and mandibles of the adult individuals high prevalence of both tooth abrasion and its high degree was ascertained. The established pattern of dental abrasion suggests an abrasive composition of diet at the historical Broumov populations and concurrently indicates that tooth age-abrasion can be used for the age-at-death determination solely in the context with the given particular historic epoch.