Sex and age determination of human mandible using anthropological parameters and TCI and Kvaal methods: study of a Serbian medieval sample.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to test the efficacy, reliability, and applicability of the Kvaal and Tooth Coronal Index (TCI) age determination techniques, and then to compare them with each other, as well as with the conventional anthropological age and sex determination techniques. METHODS: The analyzed material originates from the medieval necropolis of the Vinca-Belo brdo site. During the research, 60 periapical (PA) and 30 orthopantomographic (OPT) images were analyzed. On each analyzed tooth, age assessment was performed using both TCI and Kvaal techniques. The obtained values of dental estimated age were compared with age estimated by anthropological analysis, and the deviations between the estimated and chronological age were analyzed in relation to the assessment technique, type of dental radiograph, tooth group, sex, and age. RESULTS: The mean error between TCI and the osteological method was 8.44 (SD = 7.56, Min = 0.169, Max = 36.4) and between Kvaal and the osteological method was 7.71 (SD = 5.57, Min = 0.133, Max = 26.7). The average value of age recorded by TCI method was 32.5 years and by Kvaal method was 34.7 years. There was no statistically significant difference based on the two radiographic methods, gender, individual teeth, or tooth group pairs. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between age and the error present. CONCLUSION: Gender determination based only on the mandible has a high correlation with the anthropological gender determination. The Kvaal method and the TCI method have proven their efficiency, reliability, and applicability. Significant correlation has been observed between dental and anthropological age and sex determination methods.

Enamel incremental markings in the deciduous teeth of children from the Early Bronze and modern ages.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether children from Early Bronze Age and modern populations differ in terms of the width of the neonatal line (NNL) and the occurrence of accentuated lines in enamel. DESIGN: The sample (N = 59) consisted of two groups: 29 deciduous teeth removed from the jaws of children (dental age range from 1 to 10 years) whose skeletal remains were found in Early Bronze archaeological graves in Mokrin Serbia, and 30 present-day exfoliated deciduous teeth from 6 to 11 year old children. Mothers, whose children participated in this study, provided information regarding their health during pregnancy. The analysis was carried out on ground sections with a scanning electron microscope. Two clinicians measured the width of the NNL and counted the accentuated lines in the enamel. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between the children from the two groups regarding the width of the NNL. The width of the NNL between children whose mothers were healthy and diagnosed with gestational diabetes was significantly different. Most subjects did not have accentuated lines in the prenatal enamel, regardless of whether they were from the Bronze or Modern age. Accentuated lines were dominantly found in the postnatal enamel of the children from the Early Bronze age. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to investigate the width of the NNL in teeth of Maros children and Serbian children from the modern age. The wider NNL of children from the Early Bronze age indicates the possibility that they have experienced more overall stress in perinatal life.

Primary Teeth Bite Marks Analysis on Various Materials: A Possible Tool in Children Health Risk Analysis and Safety Assessment.

BACKGROUND: All objects put into a child's mouth could be hazardous in terms of trauma and toxic substance exposure. The aims of this study were to evaluate morphological characteristics of the primary teeth bite marks inflicted on various materials and to assess material wear using experimental model. METHODS: Bite marks were analyzed on five materials: rubber, plastic, foil, wood, and silicone. In order to mimic children mouthing behavior an experimental setup has been designed using primary teeth placed in dentures and children's equipment specimens. RESULTS: Deciduous teeth make visible and recognizable traces when using physiological forces on all investigated materials. The most significant material loss was revealed in silicone samples, but it has been observed in all material groups, while mouthing with incisors using higher mastication forces were identified as significant predictors for material wear. There were no significant differences between type, species, and morphological-morphometric characteristics of the bite marks which are made by incisors, canines, and molars. CONCLUSIONS: In the range of physiological bite forces, deciduous teeth lead to wear of material from which toys are made while the analysis of bite marks in children equipment could give some information regarding the risk of trauma and exposure.

Surface characterization of the raw and cooked bovine cortical metatarsal bone.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to quantify the elastic properties and evaluate microscopical features of raw and boiled metatarsal bovine bone. METHODS: The elastic modulus, hardness and microscopic surface of raw and cooked bovine metatarsal bone have been investigated using nanoindentation, SEM/EDX and Panasis microscope. RESULTS: Regarding raw bovine bone, the average elastic modulus was 30.515 ± 6,769 GPa, while the average hardness was 0.5683 ± 0.211 GPa. When it comes to boiled bone corresponding values were 22.298 ± 7.0303 GPa and 0.408 ± 0.199 GPa, respectively. The values for investigated parameters were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in raw bone specimens. Elastic modulus significantly correlated with hardness (p < 0.05). EDX analysis revealed significant decrease in wt% of oxygen in boiled samples (p < 0.05) No significant differences could be observed in SEM images particularly when analysing in smaller magnifications. Using higher magnification, additional branching of the existing voids as well as discrete reorganization and smoother edges of nutrient canals could be observed. The surface of boiled specimens was without the presence of crusts and layering, and no microscopical evidence of structural damage could be observed. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides detailed analysis of hardness, elastic modulus of raw and cooked bovine bone and their relation and changes during exposure to temperature. These results of elastic moduli and hardness could be comparable to similar studies of bovine and human bone tissue, but the careful analysis of experimental design, type of the bone as well as limitations of the employed techniques must be carried out before interpolation of the results to other theoretical, clinical, biomaterial and archeological studies.

Crown formation times of deciduous teeth and age at death in neolithic newborns / Tiempos de formación de la corona de los dientes deciduos y edad al morir en neonatos neolíticos

SUMMARY: The aim of the present study was to investigate the possibility of estimating crown formation times of immature deciduous teeth and age at death in Neolithic newborns. In the Neolithic-Mesolithic transition, the health of the population deteriorated. Leaving the intrauterine environment for the newborn is the first obstacle in the process of adaptation and survival in the outside world. The fetus is protected by the mother's immune system and receives the necessary nutrients through the umbilical cord, but external factors indirectly affect its development. At birth deciduous teeth are not fully formed and are only partially mineralized. Variations in the rhythmic activity of ameloblasts and the secretion of the enamel matrix lead to the formation of incremental lines in the enamel. The sample consisted of unerupted deciduous teeth removed from the baby jaws from Neolithic archaeological graves, LepenskiVir Serbia. The skeletal age of the babies was from 38 to 40 gestational weeks. The daily enamel apposition rate was obtained for each tooth. The age of individuals was estimated using crown formation time. The average value of daily secretion rates for the primary teeth from the Neolithic age was 3.78 µm. There was no statistically significant difference in age at death determined by skeletal age assessment and crown formation time. Three babies were born preterm. The results of the present study show that the calculation of the time required for the formation of deciduous tooth enamel is applicable to archaeological samples of newborns.The age estimation using crown formation time together with the analysis of other anthropological parameters, can contribute to a more accurate determination of neonatal death in anthropological, archaeological and forensic contexts.

RESUMEN: El objetivo del estudio fue investigar la posibilidad de estimar el tiempo de formación de la corona de los dientes deciduos inmaduros y la edad, al momento de la muerte en neonatos neolíticos. Durante la transición Neolítico-Mesolítico, la salud de la población deterioró significativamente. Para el recién nacido dejar el medio intrauterino es el primer obstáculo en el proceso de adaptación y supervivencia en el mundo exterior. El feto está protegido por el sistema inmunológico de la madre y recibe los nutrientes necesarios a través del cordón umbilical, pero factores externos afectan indirectamente su desarrollo. Al nacer, los dientes deciduos no están completamente formados y solo están parcialmente mineralizados. Las variaciones en la actividad rítmica de los ameloblastos y la secreción de la matriz del esmalte conducen a la formación de líneas incrementales en el esmalte. La muestra consistió en dientes sin erupción extraídos de las mandíbulas de neonatos de tumbas arqueológicas neolíticas, LepenskiVir Serbia. La edad esquelética de los bebés fue de 38 a 40 semanas de gestación. Se obtuvo la tasa diaria de aposición de esmalte para cada diente. La edad de los individuos se estimó utilizando el tiempo de formación de la copa. El valor promedio de las tasas de secreción diaria para los dientes temporales del Neolítico fue de 3,78µm. No hubo diferencia estadísticamente significativa en la edad al momento de la muerte determinada por la evaluación de la edad esquelética y el tiempo de formación de la corona. Tres bebés nacieron prematuros. Los resultados del presente estudio muestran que el cálculo del tiempo requerido para la formación del esmalte dental deciduo es aplicable a muestras arqueológicas de recién nacidos. La estimación de la edad utilizando el tiempo de formación de la corona junto con el análisis de otros parámetros antropológicos, puede contribuir a una mayor determinación precisa de la muerte neonatal en contextos antropológicos, arqueológicos y forenses.