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Biomedical subjects

T Molleson

Publications and source records attributed to T Molleson.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Caries prevalence in the dentition of a late eighteenth century population.

Remains of 92 individuals of known age and a further 71 of unknown age were selected from nearly 1000 skulls exhumed from the crypt of Christ Church, Spitalfields. Ante- and post-mortem tooth loss was assessed and caries prevalence and distribution were studied. Post-mortem loss of teeth was highest in the oldest age group, suggesting that greater care is needed during exhumation to minimize this loss. Juvenile caries levels were high, especially on occlusal surfaces of deciduous molars. Approximal caries was less frequently seen and buccal and lingual sites were only slightly less frequently involved than approximal sites. Root caries was rare, even in the oldest age group. There were differences in prevalence and distribution between males and females but not between those of English and French origins. Caries levels were generally higher in those born after 1750. It is suggested that factors other than diet and oral hygiene may have influenced caries prevalence in this population.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1993

Differences in proximal femur bone density over two centuries.

The incidence of osteoporotic hip fractures in northern Europe has been increasing over the past few decades faster than the rate adjusted for increased life expectancy. One important factor that determines osteoporotic fracture risk is bone density. The restoration of a London church, during which skeletal material dating from 1729 to 1852 was recovered, gave us the opportunity to compare the rate of bone loss in the femora of these samples with that of present-day women. The rate of bone loss, as judged by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, was significantly greater in modern-day women than in the women from two centuries ago, both pre-menopausally (p < 0.05) and post-menopausally (p < 0.01). The difference in bone loss in the Ward's triangle region between the Spitalfields samples and present-day women remained even when the assumed age at menopause was increased to 48 years or decreased to 42 years. The results suggest that differences in rates of bone loss over two centuries may partly account for the increasing incidence of hip fracture in modern-day women. Reasons for these differences are unclear, but one factor may be a lower degree of physical activity in present-day women.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

The anthropological evidence for change through Romanisation of the Poundbury population.

Poundbury Camp cemetery was in use for about 500 Years and was the burial ground for an Iron Age Durotrigian group, a rural Roman settlement and an urban Romano-British community. Low variance of metrical characters and persistence of familial traits in the three groups suggest a continuity of the population and in situ growth. However evidence for an anthropological response to the cultural romanisation of the population has been found in a number of skeletal traits including squatting which was most often adopted by Durotrigian females. Dietary changes are indicted by variation in concentrations of trace elements, including lead, in the bones.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1990

Continuing tooth eruption and alveolar crest height in an eighteenth-century population from Spitalfields, east London.

Earlier studies on dried skulls have shown that continuing eruption occurs throughout life to an extent which appears to compensate for occlusal attrition. Some investigators have interpreted the increasing distance between the tooth cervical margin and the alveolar crest as an indication of horizontal bone loss due to chronic inflammatory periodontal disease. In order to determine whether continuing eruption occurs in the absence of attrition, measurements were made on the jaws of an eighteenth-century population whose tooth wear had been minimal. Horizontal bone loss at the alveolar margin was minimal or absent. Continuing eruption had occurred, indicating that facial height probably increased throughout the life time of the individuals.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Studies on the temporomandibular joints of an eighteenth-century London population (Spitalfields).

The mandibular condyles and glenoid fossae of 93 adult skulls of known age at death were studied in skeletons exhumed from the crypt of Christ Church, Spitalfields, London. Antero-posterior and mesio-lateral dimensions were recorded, as were the shapes together with form and surface changes. In addition, the teeth present and the extent of occlusal attrition were noted. There was sexual dimorphism in the mesio-lateral size of the condyle, and although ante-mortem tooth loss was higher than in previously studied Romano-British skulls, form and surface changes of the condyle were less marked. It is concluded that tooth loss is not the main factor involved in remodelling of the condyle.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Quantitative assessment of tooth wear, alveolar-crest height and continuing eruption in a Romano-British population.

Although measurements from cement-enamel junction (CEJ) to alveolar crest (AC) have been used in assessing changes in alveolar-crest height as age or chronic inflammatory periodontal disease (CIPD) progresses, there is evidence from ancient populations that the position of AC remains almost constant throughout life and continuing eruption to compensate for attrition may explain why CEJ-AC measurements increase with age. Measurements of occlusal attrition and relationship of CEJ to AC were made on the cheek teeth of 500 Romano-British skulls by direct measurement or by reference to the fixed line of the inferior alveolar canal (IAC) on radiographs. Direct measurements indicated that there were usually no statistical differences between the vertical amounts of tooth substance lost by attrition and the change in the distance CEJ-AC as age progressed. Measurements on radiographs showed that posterior teeth continued to erupt to compensate for attrition and the AC remained static as age progressed. Bone deposition at the AC was seen in the majority of ground sections. Thus tooth wear appears to be compensated by continuing movement of teeth in an occlusal direction. The position of the AC remained almost constant throughout life; AC bone lost by CIPD seemed to be replaced during continuing tooth eruption.

Age Factors↗