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Tooth dislocation: the relationship with tooth wear and dental abscesses
1Department of Dentistry, University of Adelaide, South Australia.
American Journal of Physical Anthropology
|July 1, 1991
Summary
Tooth dislocation, or tilting, is explained by progressive tooth support loss due to wear and abscesses. This process, involving continuous eruption and bone loss, leads to functional but isolated teeth.
Area of Science:
- Paleopathology
- Dental Anthropology
- Osteology
Background:
- Tooth dislocation (tilting) is a phenomenon observed in skeletal remains.
- Understanding the etiological factors behind tooth tilting is crucial for interpreting dental health in past populations.
Observation:
- Analysis of 1,200 skulls from 34 museum collections revealed instances of tooth dislocation.
- Dislocation patterns were examined in relation to tooth type, tooth wear, and dental abscess location.
Findings:
- A model explaining tooth dislocation is proposed, based on progressive loss of tooth support.
- Physiological continuous tooth eruption contributes to attachment loss.
- Attrition, pulp perforation, and abscess formation exacerbate bone loss, leading to significant tilting under functional forces.
- Severe tilting can result in root apex exposure, isolating infected canals while retaining tooth function.
Implications:
- This model provides a rational explanation for tooth tilting in archaeological and paleontological contexts.
- The findings enhance our understanding of dental disease progression and its biomechanical consequences in ancient populations.
- Differentiates between functional isolation of infected teeth and complete tooth loss.