Periodontitis in the historical population of Radom (Poland) from the 11th to 19th centuries

Abstract

AbstractPeriodontitis can be an excellent indirect source of data on the general and oral health, dietary habits, and hygiene of past populations. This study assessed periodontitis in the population of Radom from the 11th century up to the industrial revolution in the 19th century. The dental material was divided into 3 historical series: the Early Medieval (EMP; 11th century), Late Medieval (LMP; 14th–17th century), and Modern (MP; 18th–19th century) periods. A total of 256 adult individuals of both sexes were examined with a total of 4,579 teeth. Four diagnostic criteria were used to diagnose the disease. Periodontitis affected 54% of the individuals from the Early Medieval Period, 71% of those from the Late Medieval Period, and 74% of those from the Medieval Period. In all chronological periods, the prevalence and severity of periodontitis were higher among males. The youngest (17–25 years) age class had the lowest prevalence of periodontitis. In subsequent age classes there are an increase the disease. The results indicate that the “environmental conditions” were different in these chronological periods. Possible differences could be related to diet, but oral hygiene, unhealthy habits, and psychological stress cannot be ruled out. Different levels of sex hormones could explain the difference in the prevalence of periodontitis between sexes.