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Fluoride concentration in ancient teeth measured by nuclear reaction
1Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Messina, Italy.
Clinical Materials
|December 9, 1993
Summary
Ancient teeth from Sicily show high fluoride levels, suggesting the population was protected from dental caries. This nuclear analysis reveals insights into ancient oral health and environmental fluoride exposure.
Area of Science:
- Paleodontology
- Nuclear analytical chemistry
- Bioarchaeology
Background:
- Investigating ancient human health provides insights into past lifestyles and environmental factors.
- Understanding historical dental health can inform modern public health strategies.
Observation:
- Ancient teeth (13th-8th century B.C.) from a Sicilian necropolis were analyzed for fluoride content.
- Nuclear analysis revealed high fluoride concentrations in enamel and dentine, averaging 10 mg/g hydroxyapatite.
Findings:
- The measured fluoride levels are comparable to those found in modern fluorotic teeth from high-fluoride water regions.
- These elevated fluoride concentrations likely conferred significant protection against dental caries.
Implications:
- The findings suggest that dental caries may have been virtually absent in this ancient Sicilian population.
- This study highlights the protective role of environmental fluoride on ancient dental health and disease prevalence.