The Early Iron Age elite grave from the Kapiteljska njiva barrow cemetery (Novo mesto, Slovenia): an approach to dental profiling through non-invasive and minimally-invasive techniques.

Kapiteljska njiva is a prehistoric cemetery located in the town of Novo mesto in southern Slovenia. There is a long history of archaeological research at this site, as the first investigations date back to the end of the 19th century. In 2004, an Early Iron Age barrow XVI was investigated. The oldest surviving grave in the barrow is the central grave, numbered XVI/34, which according to its position and the richness of the grave goods, belongs to a woman of higher status. Most likely, she was the first member or initiator of a family that continued to bury its dead in the barrow for the next 300 years. There were no preserved skeletal elements; however, in the head part of the grave, remains of human teeth, mostly the tooth crowns and the shells of enamel from the tooth crowns, were found among the scattered amber beads of a necklace. Moreover, these tooth remains are one of the few human biological materials (mostly fragments of skull and long limb bones) unearthed in this cemetery, reflecting the influence of acidic soil from the burial site. This study aimed to create a dental profile of the deceased in a similar way as during a forensic investigation. The remains were examined macroscopically and stereo-microscopically. The morphological traits were scored following the ASUDAS protocol. Ancestry was estimated by entering these scores into a beta version of the web-based application rASUDAS. Brothwell's system was used for age at death estimation from occlusal attrition. Identification of sex was based on the analysis of sex-specific amelogenin isoforms in dental enamel by nanoflow liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (nanoLC-MS/MS). The present study reveals that the dental remains from Kapiteljska njiva belong to the permanent dentition of a single individual and that only the right upper central incisor and third molar are completely absent. The remains of teeth exhibit a simple external morphology, characterised by the absence of morphological dental traits, with a notable exception of the two-rooted left lower canine. The probability of assigning this individual to the Western Eurasian ancestry group is 98%. According to the degree of dentine exposure on the occlusal surfaces of molars, the estimated age range is 17-25 years. Another line of evidence comes from the observation that the first signs of approximal attrition are present in lower third molars but absent in the only preserved upper counterpart, indicating that the age at which the lower third molars entered into occlusion represents a proxy of the individual's age at death. Data on the chronology of the lower third molar development and eruption in present-day European populations from forensic literature (Brkic et al. 2011; Olze et al. 2008; Selmanagic et al. 2013) and The London Atlas confirm the above age-range estimate. Caution is, however, needed in the interpretation of results, because reference data are not based on the population of the individual's origin. Proteomic analysis classified the individual as a female, which is in line with the archaeological evidence. No pathological lesions or indicators of systemic stress were identified; however, the absence of approximal attrition facets in upper anterior teeth indicates interdental spacing. The results of dental profiling are discussed in the context of historical background, today's clinical knowledge, and epidemiological data.

The prevalence of three-rooted permanent mandibular molars in a Slovenian population: A radiographic study.

Background: Three-rooted permanent mandibular molars (PMMs) have great clinical significance and interesting geographical distribution. Aim: The aim of this retrospective study was to assess their prevalence among a Slovenian dental school patient population. Materials and methods: A total of 3668 PMMs (1361 first, 1573 second, and 734 third) were evaluated by means of intraoral (periapical and bite-wing) radiographs that were collected from dental records of 1317 patients (708 females and 609 males) aged 13-92 years (mean age 37.3 years). The radiographs were evaluated independently by two observers under optimal conditions using a viewing box and a magnifying glass. 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the prevalence of three-rooted PMMs in the population were estimated using Wald's method. The Fisher's exact test was applied to examine any statistically significant difference among PMM groups, between left and right teeth and between male and female patients. Results: Three roots were identified in 1.32% [0.82%-2.10%, 95% CI] of the evaluated first PMMs, 0.25% [0.07%-0.61%, 95% CI] of second, and 1.77% [1.01%-3.04%, 95% CI] of third PMMs. The overall prevalence of three-rooted PMMs was 0.95% [0.68%-1.33%, 95% CI]. The second PMM was less often affected than the first or the third PMM (p < 0.001). No statistically significant differences for three-rooted first, second and third PMMs were detected with respect to sex (p > 0.05) or the side of occurrence (left vs. right side, p > 0.05). Conclusions: A relatively low prevalence of three-rooted PMMs in the examined Slovenian population is in agreement with the available data for Europeans. Three-rooted variants occur least frequently in second PMMs. From a clinical viewpoint, the possibility of three-rooted PMMs should always be considered and looked for, even when treating indigenous European patients.

Endodontic Management of the Three-Rooted Mandibular First Permanent Molar: a Case Report.

The distal root of the mandibular first permanent molar (MFPM) contains one or two canals. More rarely, the second/third distal canal is found in a separate root in a distolingual (DL) position - a radix entomolaris (RE). In Caucasians, this occurs in less than 4% of cases, but it is equally important to be aware of this possibility. Careful examination of the preoperative periapical radiographs (orthoradial and mesially angled) and inspection of the pulp chamber floor during endodontic management may indicate that this radicular variant is present. RE's lingual inclination and buccolingual curvature must be taken into account during cleaning and shaping of the canal within this root to avoid procedural errors, such as straightening and ledging of the root canal, perforation or instrument fracture. The aim of the present paper was to discuss a case report of a young patient, referred to an endodontic office after a ledge was created by inappropriate instrumentation of a buccolingually curved RE canal.

Size, ultrastructure, and microhardness of natal teeth with agenesis of permanent successors.

OBJECTIVE: Natal and neonatal teeth may occur in conjunction with other oral anomalies, including anomalous development of succedaneous teeth. Our purpose was to examine the size, ultrastructure, and microhardness of two natal teeth without permanent successor germs, and compare them with the characteristics of normal primary teeth. DESIGN: The dimensions of two natal mandibular incisors extracted from a healthy 7-year-old child were measured with a digital sliding caliper. The crown dimensions of normal primary mandibular central incisors were established from dental casts of 102 children. Since the natal teeth were nearly completely devoid of enamel, the average enamel thickness determined on a sample of 19 normal primary mandibular incisors was added to the values measured. External surfaces and transverse sections of the natal teeth were examined under a scanning electron microscope. Vickers microhardness of radicular dentine was assessed for the natal teeth and for 11 normal primary mandibular incisors. RESULTS: Only remnants of enamel were present. All crown dimensions corrected for enamel loss were within the normal range. The ultrastructure of hard dental tissues was normal. The radicular dentine hardness of the natal teeth was similar to that of the normal primary mandibular incisors. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the natal teeth were prematurely erupted regular primary mandibular central incisors. In our case, the occurrence of natal teeth associated with agenesis of their primary successors appears to be related to an accelerated or premature pattern of dental development, rather than to superficial positioning of the tooth germs.

Cementum thickness in multirooted human molars: a histometric study by light microscopy.

Cementum distribution was studied on transversely sectioned roots of 33 three-rooted maxillary and 33 two-rooted mandibular permanent molars. The roots were sectioned at a level midway between furcation and apical region. Cementum thickness was measured at the midpoint of each of the four root surfaces and at a site exhibiting maximal cementum thickness. A reflected light microscope was used. Midpoint cementum thickness ranged between 5 and 800 microm in maxillary molars and between 5 and 700 microm in mandibular molars. Maximal cementum thickness ranged between 25 and 1140 microm in maxillary molars and between 20 and 700 microm in mandibular molars. The results indicate that cementum tends to accumulate along interradicular surfaces of multirooted molars. In addition, a tendency was noted for more cementum to occur orally than vestibularly in roots of mandibular molars as well as in buccal roots of maxillary molars. Furthermore, this study indicates that cementum accumulates in root concavities (developmental depressions), although the exact mechanism still awaits a clear explanation. Previous studies have suggested that tensile forces stimulate cementum apposition. It may be assumed, however, that masticatory function and continuing eruption of the teeth exert no discernible effect on cementum thickness in the examined region of the root. In conclusion, the observed cementum distribution could be attributed to at least two factors: one is buccal drift and the second may be the effect of root concavities. From a clinical viewpoint, the established pattern of cementum distribution in multirooted molars should be considered in endodontic and periodontal treatment.

Unusual variant of type 3 dens invaginatus in a maxillary canine: a rare case report.

A 13-year-old boy presented with clinical symptoms of periapical inflammation related to the right maxillary canine. A bizarre radiographic appearance of the root was considered suggestive of a compound odontome. Histological examination of the surgically extracted canine revealed a very rare variant of Oehlers' type 3 invagination. The invagination originated in a pit above the cingulum as a narrow coronal channel that opened into a large cavity inside the dilated root. The radicular part of the invagination contained all components of the attachment apparatus. The root canal and its apical foramen were slit-like and circular. Radiographic appearance of two roots separated by a wide interradicular area in a normally single-rooted tooth is indicative of this variant of type 3 invagination. Timely prophylactic treatment and follow-up or early endodontic treatment confined to the coronal channel are crucial to prevent pulp necrosis and consequent loss of the tooth.

Carabelli's trait in contemporary Slovenes and inhabitants of a medieval settlement (Sredisce by the Drava River).

The objectives of this study were to determine the total frequency, expression and asymmetry of Carabelli's trait in permanent dentitions of contemporary Slovenes and a medieval skeletal population from northeastern Slovenia. A total of 254 dental casts from contemporary Slovene children were examined. The population of a medieval settlement (10th-15th centuries), was represented by 94 skeletons. A modification of the method of Alvesalo and associates was used to classify Carabelli's trait on a five-grade scale. The trait was expressed on the upper first molars of 79.7% of the contemporary subjects and 75.8% of the medieval sample. Positive expressions of the trait were found in 10.1% of the contemporary subjects and 15.2% of the medieval sample. While the observed total frequency of the trait in both samples is characteristic of Europeans, the rates of positive expressions are surprisingly low but consistent with data from a recently published worldwide literature survey. Both populations showed a low rate of left-right fluctuating asymmetry of the trait. This finding might reflect a pronounced ability of individuals in the medieval population to buffer unfavourable influences from the environment and a relatively low level of environmental stress in the contemporary population.