Browsing by Author "Charlier, P."
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Item Cross-regional assessment of dental pathologies: Evidence for predicting oral health and intra-vitam stress among Ghanaian ancestors(Ethics, Medicine and Public Health, 2023) Lamptey, P.S.N.O.; Charlier, P.Background and aim. — WHO’s definition of oral health extends beyond the state of the teeth and dental pathologies. However, dental pathologies form a significant component of oral health and impact a person’s quality of life. Thus, dental pathologies can elucidate intra-vitam oral health and dietetics of ancient or contemporary populations. This paper aimed at predicting the oral health and intra-vitam stress of past inhabitants across five regions in Ghana from dental pathologies. Method. — The study employed the mixed research approach involving standard anthropo logical observational scoring systems to examine five dental pathologies: caries, calculus, abscess, enamel hypoplasia, and cementum hyperplasia. The scores were translated into absent (0)/present (1) pathology categories and the frequency was calculated in an Excel sheet. Results and discussion. — Dental pathologies constituted 60% of the total pathologies recorded on human remains, with calculus being dominant (35%), followed by caries (30%), enamel hypoplasia (21%), abscess (9%), and hypercementosis (7%). In general, the individuals from Sekondi presented the highest percentage of dental pathologies, i.e., 69% caries, 66% calculus, 50% abscess, 44% enamel hypoplasia, and 5% hypercementosis. Begho and Yapei individuals had equal percentages of abscesses, enamel hypoplasia, and calculus, while hypercementosis was relatively low in all cases. More than one individual combined multiple dental pathologies, while 6 had none. Grounded on the high caries and calculus expression rates and their direct influ ence on other dental pathologies, the individual’s oral health could have been compromised by dietary patterns, developmental factors, functional stress on the teeth, and inadequate oral hygiene. Conclusion. — The assessment of the dental pathologies of these Ghanaian ancestors offered valuable insights into dietetics, oral health, and some intra-vitam developmental and functional stress on the teeth.Item Dental calculus as a useful tool for public health evidence in past populations: The case of two individuals from Begho-Ghana (10th—19th C. AD)(Ethics, Medicine and Public Health, 2023) Lamptey, P.S.N.O.; Bourdinb, V.; Charlier, P.Background. — Numerous studies have demonstrated that dental calculus is a concrete store house of the oral microbiome and micro-remains of dietary and non-dietary origin. Dental calculus analysis allows insight into past populations’ dietary contents and public health con cerns. This study aimed at questioning whether two individuals from Begho (Ghana) were at risk of industrial pollution from their dental calculus samples. Materials and method. — Three calculus samples from the two adult individuals were subjected to X-ray fluorescence analysis using the Rigaku NEX CG X-ray fluorescence machine. After cali bration with a bead of borosilicate, the 3.5 g samples were run for 15—20 minutes along with the Rigaku NEX CG XRF fundamental parameters (FP) double determination approach and a helium gas test flow rate of 0.660 ml/min. Results are semi-quantitative determinations in percent values.Results. — In total, 59 elements and 55 molecular fingerprints were automatically generated. Oxygen and calcium elements were high for all samples, and variations in Fe, Si, and Al ele ments and corresponding oxides were evidenced in the three samples. The dental calculus analysis revealed an expected composition of calcified aluminium silicate, minimal traces of industrial pollutants such as lead, mercury, and chromium, and no trace of arsenic, antimony, and cadmium. Conclusion. — By analyzing dental calculus in direct correlation with alimentation, we assert that the two individuals sampled were not exposed to lead, chromium, mercury, arsenic, anti mony, and cadmium in Begho (10th—19th C. AD). We infer that industrial pollutants did not jeopardize the health of these Begho individuals.