Prevalence of Dental Caries in Past European Populations: A Systematic Review.

Carolina Bertilsson, Eva Borg, Sabine Sten, Eva Hessman, Helen Sjöblom, Peter Lingström

Journal: Caries research 2022;56(1):15-28

PMID: 35100581

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE

Within the fields of anthropology and osteoarcheology, human teeth have long been studied to understand the diet, habits, and diseases of past civilizations. However, no complete review has been published to collect and analyze the extensive available data on caries prevalence in European man (Homo sapiens) over time.

METHOD

In this current study, the two databases, Scopus and Art, Design, and Architecture Collection, were searched using predefined search terms. The literature was systematically reviewed and assessed by two of the authors.

RESULTS

The findings include a significant nonlinear correlation with increasing caries prevalence in European populations from 9000 BC to 1850 AD, for both the number of carious teeth and the number of affected individuals.

CONCLUSION

Despite the well-established collective belief that caries rates fluctuate between different locations and time and the general view that caries rates have increased from prehistoric times and onwards, this is to our knowledge the first time this relationship has been proven based on published data.

Address: Department of Cariology, Institute of Odontology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.; Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology, Institute of Odontology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.; Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, Campus Gotland, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.; Biomedical Library, Gothenburg University Library, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.

DOI: 10.1159/000522326