Microscopic Enamel Defects in a Contemporary Population: Biological and Social Implications
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University of Tennessee, Knoxville TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Masters Theses Graduate School 8-1998 Microscopic Enamel Defects in a Contemporary Population: Biological and Social Implications Lise Marie Mifsud University of Tennessee, Knoxville Follow this and additional works at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes Part of the Anthropology Commons Recommended Citation Mifsud, Lise Marie, "Microscopic Enamel Defects in a Contemporary Population: Biological and Social Implications. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 1998. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/4222 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses by an authorized administrator of TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. To the Graduate Council: I am submitting herewith a thesis written by Lise Marie Mifsud entitled "Microscopic Enamel Defects in a Contemporary Population: Biological and Social Implications." I have examined the final electronic copy of this thesis for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the equirr ements for the degree of Master of Arts, with a major in Anthropology. Murray K. Marks, Major Professor We have read this thesis and recommend its acceptance: Walter E. Klippel, Lyle Konigsberg, Mike Elam Accepted for the Council: Carolyn R. Hodges Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School (Original signatures are on file with official studentecor r ds.) To the Graduate Council: I am submitting herewith a thesis written by Lise Marie Mifsud entitled "Microscopic Enamel Defects in a Contemporary Population: Biological and Social Implications". I have examined the final copy of this thesis forform and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts, with a major in Anthropology. We have read this thesis and recommend its acceptance: Accepted for the Council: Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of the Graduate School Microscopic Enamel Defects In A Contemporary Population: Biological and Social Implications A Thesis Presented for the Master of Arts Degree The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Lise Marie Mifsud August 1998 Copyright © Lise Marie Mifsud, 1998 All rights reserved ii Dedication This thesis is dedicated to my parents Mr. Jerry Mifsud and Ms. Jeanette Monterio and my sister Meshelle A. Mifsud Without their loving support this thesis would not have been possible. and my fiance Robert Brown Who knew that the years we spent apart would only make us stronger. Now it is our time to be together. 111 Acknowledgments There are so many individuals who gave their professionaland personal time towards the completion of this thesis. Collecting my sample would not have been possible without the help of the stafffrom the following oral surgeons offices: Dr. Hollander, Dr. Stultz, Dr. Conroy,Dr. Wilson, Dr. Limchayseng, Discount Denture Service of Knoxville, Marin County Dental Services Clinic, Knox County Public Health Clinic, and Memphis Public Health Clinic. Assistance with acquiring the digital images was providedby Dr. DavidCole and Dr. Larry Anovitzat Oak Ridge National Laboratories. The digital images were processed into a finished productby Rob Brown. The students in the Anthropology department at the University of Tennessee were always there to offer words of encouragement andvaluable suggestions. The members of my committee deservespecial mention, foreach of them contributed to this work. Dr. MikeElam introduced me to the possibilities of technology and made the digital images a reality. Dr. Lyle Konigsberg provided assistancewith the statistics. He was always available to answer questions, and did so in a way that was not belittling. Any mistakesthe reader finds in said statistics are the sole responsibilityof the author. Dr. Walter Klippel had the uncanny ability to ask the pertinent questions, which gave direction to my research focus. I appreciate all of the forehead rubbing he did on my behalf IV Finally, I would like to thank the chair ofmy committeeDr. Murray Marks whose previous research on this topic made this work possible. He provided laboratoryspace, supplies, training, advice, support, and encouragement. I thank him forhis enthusiasm and for instilling in me an interest in things not readily visible on the surface. V Abstract In this study, the frequencyof microscopicdef ects in enamel, termed Wilson bands, are analyzed according to socioeconomic affiliation, the sex, and ethnicity of the individual. The sample consists of 193 anterior teeth collected fromprivate practice and public health oral surgeon's offices. These defects have been studied in great detail by dental researchers, dental anthropologists, and bioarchaeologists to ascertain: etiology, morphology, inter- and intra- population differences, prehistoric diet and health, and dietaryand morbidity conditions of underprivileged contemporarypopulations. The results of this study are compared to results of previous researchers and similarities and differences in findings are discussed. Of particular interest is the applicability of Wilson bands to the stresses incurred during the weaning process, and the relationship of socioeconomic affiliationto the occurrence of Wilson bands. The social ramificationsof these findingsare discussed. VI Table of Contents CHAPTER PAGE 1. INTRODUCTION.................................................................... 1 2. DEVELOPMENTALDENTAL ANATOMY.................................... 3 Enamel Formation (Amelogenesis).................. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 Morphology of Enamel............................................................... 8 Incremental Lines. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 11 3. ENAMELDEF ECTS.................................................................. 15 Morphology of Microscopic Enamel Defects...................................... 15 Morphology of Macroscopic Enamel Defects... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 17 Etiology of Enamel Defects.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 19 Experimental and Animal Studies................................................ 20 Socioeconomic and Ethnic Correlates. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21 Epidemiological and Clinical Studies of ContemporaryPopulations... .. 23 4. THEUS E OF ENAMELDEFE CTS IN ANTHROPOLOGY.................... 28 Early Research. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 28 Recent Research. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 31 Determining Health of Past Societies.............................................. 31 Temporal Change in Health......................................................... 34 Cultural Indicators of Stress.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 7 Indication of Previous Medical Conditions.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 40 5. MATERIALSAND METHODS.............................. .......................... 41 Documentation.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 41 Embedding Procedures.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 43 Thin-Sectioning Procedures.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 44 Light Microscopy. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 44 Interpretation of DefectTiming..................... .................................. 45 Methodological Concerns.... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 45 Evaluating Age of Wilson Band Occurrence....................................... 50 Tooth Sensitivity.......................................................................... 54 Statistical Procedures.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 5 6. RESULTS.................................................................................... 57 Wilson Band Frequency Paired with Sex, Collection Locale, and Ethnicity........ 57 Chronology of Wilson Band Occurrence................................................ 62 vu CHAPTER PAGE 7. DISCUSSION.............................................................................. 64 Wilson Band Frequencies by Sex, Collection Locale, and Ethnicity. .. .. 64 Implications for Age of Wilson Band Occurrence.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 68 Sensitivity of Wilson Bands............................................................ 70 8. CONCLUSION............................................................................ 73 REFERENCES CITED....................................................................... 76 APPENDICES Table A-1 Tooth Measurements ......................................................... 87 Table A-2 Wilson Band Frequencies................................................... 91 Table A-3 Chi-Square Raw Data... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 95 VITA ............................................................................................... 115 Vlll List of Tables TABLE PAGE 1. Some conditions which cause enamel defects and Wilson bands. .. 25 2. Sample specifics........................ ............................................ 42 3. Chi-squareresults forthe relationship between Wilson band frequencyand the individual's sex......... ..................... ................................... 58 4. Chi-square results forthe relationship between Wilson band frequency and collection locale..............................................................