Frequency of occurrence of taurodontism in the historical population of Radom (11th-19th centuries).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the work was to trace possible changes in the frequency of taurodontism in individuals who inhabited historical Radom from the early Middle Ages to modern periods. DESIGN: The research was based on the analysis of X-ray images of 640 molars of individuals from the 11th/12th c. (n = 120), 14th/17th c. (n = 76), and 18th/19th c. (n = 444). Radiological images were made with the use of a portable X-ray machine, and the results were biometrically analysed using the Shiffman and Chanannel index. RESULTS: The highest frequency of taurodontism was observed in the 18th/19th c. (31 %, 138/444). In the 11th/12th and 14th/17th centuries, this percentage was significantly lower (22 %, 26/120 vs. 16 %, 12/76). In subsequent chronological periods, no statistically significant differences between sexes in the occurrence of taurodontism were observed. The highest number of taurodontal teeth was observed among the second and first upper molars (73 % and 52 %, respectively), and the lowest number was observed among the first and second lower molars (16 % and 23 %, respectively). In all historical periods, hypotaurodont forms were most often observed. CONCLUSIONS: Variations in the frequency of taurodontism may result from many reasons, for example environmental factors. However, it cannot be ruled out that the observed differences result from the increased migration of people to Radom in the 18th/19th century.

Clinical implications of a diagnosis of taurodontism: A literature review.

Taurodontism is a morphological anomaly involving multirooted teeth that is characterized by a vertical shift of the pulp chamber and shortening of the roots. The literature was analyzed to determine the impact of a diagnosis of taurodontism on dental treatment. A total of 85 full-text publications from the years 2005-2021 were analyzed and 20 publications were included in this research. The endodontic treatment of a taurodont tooth is challenging due to the apical displacement of the pulpal chamber floor and the incorrect configuration of the root canal system, or the presence of additional canals. In terms of prosthetics, the use of taurodont teeth as abutments is not recommended as they lack stability due to shorter roots. The extraction of taurodont teeth can be complicated due to an apical shift of the root furcation. In periodontology, taurodont teeth can have a better prognosis as there is less chance of furcation involvement. From an orthodontic point of view, it is important to note that taurodont teeth are not sufficiently embedded in the alveolus and have a greater tendency for root resorption. With regard to genetic diseases, it has been reported that this anomaly can exist as an isolated feature. However, the majority of authors agree that taurodontism is associated with conditions such as Down syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, cleft lip and palate, hypodontia, amelogenesis imperfecta, and others. From a clinical standpoint, it is very important to diagnose taurodontism before treatment. A diagnosis of taurodontism can be important in the early diagnosis of malformations that commonly occur with this condition.

The prevalence of pulp stones in historical populations from the middle Euphrates valley (Syria).

There are many reports in the literature concerning pulp stones in contemporary living populations, but there are no descriptions of cases of pulp stones and their prevalence in populations of the past. Here we present a study of pulp stones in a series of archaeologically derived samples from the Middle Euphrates Valley (Syria) obtained from two sites: Terqa and Tell Masaikh. The specimens were assigned to five periods: Early Bronze (2650-2350 BC); Middle Bronze (2200-1700 BC); late Roman (AD 200-400); Islamic (AD 600-1200); and Modern Islamic (AD 1850-1950). A total of 529 teeth representing 117 adult individuals of both sexes were examined. Pulp stones were identified by X-ray and 10 selected specimens were sectioned for histological study. Pulp stones were found in 99 of 117 individuals (85%) and in 271 of 529 (51%) teeth. Pulp stone prevalence was found to increase with age, for individuals of older age classes have more pulp stones than younger individuals. Intriguingly, the prevalence of single pulp stones was higher among older individuals (36-45, >46), while younger individuals (17-25, 26-35) more often possessed multiple stones. Individuals with moderate to highly advanced dental wear have pulp stones significantly more often than individuals whose tooth wear is limited to invisible or very small facets. Though there is no statistical significance in the prevalence of pulp stones across chronological periods, it appears that a high level of calcium in the diet is accompanied by a greater prevalence of pulp stones.