CARIES PREVALENCE IN THE DENTITION OF A LATE 18TH-CENTURY POPULATION

Remains of 92 individuals of known age and a further 71 of unknown age were selected from nearly 1000 skulls exhumed from the crypt of Chris t Church, Spitalfields. Ante- and post-mortem tooth loss was assessed and caries prevalence and distribution were studied. Post-mortem loss of teeth was highest in the oldest age group, suggesting that greater care is needed during exhumation to minimize this loss. Juvenile carie s levels were high, especially on occlusal surfaces of deciduous molar s. Approximal caries was less frequently seen and buccal and lingual s ites were only slightly less frequently involved than approximal sites . Root caries was rare, even in the oldest age group. There were diffe rences in prevalence and distribution between males and females but no t between those of English and French origins. Caries levels were gene rally higher in those born after 1750. It is suggested that factors ot her than diet and oral hygiene may have influenced caries prevalence i n this population.