Dental Disease and its Implications

By Morgan Tupper

Terms to Know and Dental Anatomy

Enamel – hard lining of the toothDentine – makes up the interior of the tooth, not as hard as enamelPulp – makes up the center of the tooth and contains blood vessels that connect through a small hole in the root of the tooth. Pulp is the medium in which nutrients reach the tooth and also where tooth pain is felt.Gingiva – the gum

CalculusDental calculus is the name given to the accumulation of mineralized plaque on the surface of teeth.Supragingival calculus is attacted to the enamel of the cervical crown above the gingival margin.Subgingival calculus deposits form as gingival material recedes and forms beneath the gingival line.Commonly known as tartar

Dental CariesDental caries are the destruction of dentine, enamel and cement occuring from acid production of bacteria in dental plaque.

AbscessesAbscesses develop in steps like

cavities. If a dental caries is left unattended,

or attrition is present, bacteria can enter the pulp and cause inflamation (pulpitis). Blood vessels compress and pus and pulp death ensues.

Next comes periapical periodontitis where inflamation continues down root canal and toxims emerge from apical foramens and into periodontal tissues and a mass of inflamed tissue forms (periodontal granuloma).

From the accumulation of pus from the periodontal granuloma an abscess can grow!

Ante Mortem Tooth Loss

Antemortem tooth loss can be caused by periodontal disease and dental caries.

Implications for SaniseraSanisera 2009 Dental Pathology with

percent teeth collected:Dental Calculus – 16.3% (129/780)

Dental Caries - Caries – 1.14% (9/780)Abscess – 0.25% (2/780)Antemortem tooth loss – 2.91% (23/780)

In comparison to the general Roman population and other territories of the time, these numbers are average to low.

With Roman occupation came a diet based more on cereals which encourages dental disease, particularly dental caries

With further dental analysis, a better understanding of diet, nutrition and health for the past residents of Menorca can be obtained.