Occurrence and distribution of blackish staining on the crowns of human teeth obtained from an archeological excavation of a medieval site in Norway.

Abstract

An excavation in Trondheim, Norway, in 1984-85, uncovered a part of the medieval (1100-1600) cemetery of St Olav's Church. Of 388 excavated skeletons, 248 had skulls where the condition of the jaws and teeth allowed examination. In 51 of these skulls the teeth exhibited a characteristic blackish staining. A higher percentage of affected skulls was found in areas with organic, woodchip layers than in areas with gravelly sand. Affected skulls tended to have a high percentage of their teeth stained, but the staining tended to be restricted to only one or two of the three tooth surfaces scored. Posterior teeth were more often affected than anterior teeth, the occlusal/incisal part more often than the cervical part, and the buccal/labial part more often than the lingual part. Nonerupted third molars could also be stained. Staining seemed to be hampered by calculus. Occurrence of staining was independent of the presence or absence of a coffin and of coffin type. The extent of staining (% of stained surfaces within a dentition) was independent of sex and age. High correlation was found between all four jaw quadrants. There was no independence between color of the jawbone and occurrence of stained teeth. It was concluded that the staining phenomenon probably can be ascribed to factors in the soil. In vivo predisposing influences cannot be excluded.