Incidence of caries and abscesses in archeological Eskimo skeletal samples from Point Hope and Kodiak Island, Alaska

• Published in: American journal of physical anthropology Vol. 52; no. 4; p. 501
• Main Author: Costa, Jr, R L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.05.1980
• Subjects: Age Factors; Alaska; Bone and Bones - pathology; Dental Caries - epidemiology; Diet; DMF Index; Female; Humans; Inuits; Male; Periapical Abscess - epidemiology; Periodontal Abscess - epidemiology; Periodontitis - epidemiology; Sex Factors; Tooth Abrasion - epidemiology; Alaska
• ISSN: 0002-9483
• DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.1330520407

The incidence of caries and abscesses in 246 archeologically derived skeletal specimens from the Ipiutak and Tigara levels at Point Hope, Alaska, and 79 specimens excavated from Jones Point, Kodiak Island, Alaska were investigated. All three collections span long periods of time. Only pre-white contact specimens were used. Each specimen was sexed and aged in five year groupings, using standard techniques. Caries and abscesses were recorded by type and degree of severity and correlated with age, sex, and site of origin. All samples displayed very low caries rates and few abscesses per tooth and per individual (both observed frequencies, and frequencies corrected for postmortem loss of teeth). DMF scores were tabulated using both observed and corrected frequencies. Very heavy occlusal wear in all three samples could account for the majority of abscesses and pulp exposures, while the low caries rates are attributable to traditional diets totally devoid of refined sugars, starches, and food additives.