The prevalence and distribution of dental caries in a Romano-British population

Dental disease, incidence of tooth loss and prevalence and distribution of caries were studied in 517 Romano-British skulls from a single burial site. The overall prevalence of caries was higher than previously recorded in Romano-British studies which were influenced by inclusion of soil erosion cavities. Numbers of missing teeth and whether such teeth were lost ante or post mortem also influenced prevalence. Caries prevalence was lower than in modern populations, but the pattern was similar, except that approximal caries occurred more commonly at the cervical margin of the Romano-British teeth than at the contact areas as seen in modern material. Tooth loss was also less marked, but modern dentistry does not appear to have altered the patterns of tooth loss and caries attack.