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Root caries on a Paranthropus robustus third molar from Drimolen
Ian Towle1, Alessandro Riga2, Joel D Irish1,3
1Research Centre in Evolutionary Anthropology and Palaeoecology, School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK.
Dental caries, or tooth decay, occurred in ancient hominins like Paranthropus robustus. A root caries lesion on a 2-million-year-old molar suggests it may have been arrested, possibly due to diet or oral bacteria changes.
Area of Science:
- Paleontology
- Human Evolution
- Dental Anthropology
Background:
- Dental caries are often considered a modern human disease.
- Evidence of caries is increasingly found in fossil hominins, nonhuman primates, and early human groups.
- This study examines a specific case in Paranthropus robustus.
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