METHODS: In all, 81 African individuals (>12 years old) were analysed (19 males, 49 females, and 13 of unknown sex), in a total of 2283 alveoli, 2061 teeth, and 2213 interdental septa. Analysed oral pathologies include dental caries, periodontal disease, and ante-mortem tooth loss. Dental wear was also recorded.
RESULTS: Dental caries affected 52.0 % of the teeth, although only 31.9 % were cavitated lesions. In all, 96.3 % of the individuals presented at least one cariogenic lesion. Gingivitis and periodontitis were recorded in 56.7 % and 19.0 % of the septa, respectively. Only one male individual had all septal areas healthy. Ante-mortem tooth loss was recorded in 38.3 % of the individuals, in a total of 96 teeth lost (4.2 %). Regarding occlusal wear, 70.8 % of the surfaces were recorded with grades 1-3.
CONCLUSIONS: The frequencies of the oral pathological conditions observed may not only reflect a cariogenic diet (rich in starches and with a high frequency of meals) but also the conditions during the maritime voyage of the first victims of the North Atlantic slave trade (xerostomia due to lack of water, sea sickness and vomiting, vitamin C deficiency, poor hygiene), and also the impact intentional dental modifications had on the dentitions.
方法:总之,分析了81名非洲个体(>12岁)(19名男性,49名女性,和13个未知性别),总共2283个肺泡,2061颗牙齿,和2213个齿间隔垫。分析的口腔疾病包括龋齿,牙周病,和死前牙齿脱落。还记录了牙齿磨损。
结果:龋齿影响了52.0%的牙齿,尽管只有31.9%是空化病变。总之,96.3%的个体出现至少一个致龋病变。牙龈炎和牙周炎记录在56.7%和19.0%的隔片中,分别。只有一个男性个体的所有间隔区域都健康。有38.3%的人死前牙齿脱落,总共有96颗牙齿丢失(4.2%)。关于咬合磨损,70.8%的表面用等级1-3记录。
结论:所观察到的口腔病理状况的频率可能不仅反映了致龋饮食(富含淀粉且进餐频率很高),而且还反映了北大西洋奴隶贸易的第一批受害者在海上航行期间的状况(由于缺水导致的口干症,晕船和呕吐,维生素C缺乏,卫生条件差),以及有意的牙齿修饰对牙列的影响。