Micro-computed tomography of teeth as an alternative way to detect and analyse vitamin D deficiency

Abstract

This contribution presents the first application of micro-computed tomography (μCT) to study pathological mineral defects associated with vitamin D deficiency, namely interglobular dentine (IGD), within the mineral matrix of archaeological teeth from three French medieval cases. To date, such an approach has only been used once in a clinical setting. Through this work, we evaluate potential benefits of this alternative approach and the contribution such work could make to anthropological debates, through analysis of rare teeth of human or non-human fossils or teeth of individuals where more destructive techniques cannot be applied.