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Oral and Dental Health in the Euromos Community
Abstract
Objective
This study aimed to evaluate the oral and dental health of individuals from the ancient city of Euromos in Southwestern Anatolia, with a focus on dental pathologies and their implications for diet and lifestyle.
Material and Methods
A total of 258 permanent teeth from 45 individuals excavated in the South Necropolis of Euromos in 2013 were analyzed. The sample consisted of 106 teeth from 11 females and 152 teeth from 14 males. The study examined caries, abscesses, tooth wear, dental calculus, ante-mortem tooth loss, and alveolar bone loss. Observations were made according to tooth type, jaw, sex, and age, and statistical comparisons were performed.
Results
Tooth wear was the most frequent finding (96.4%), primarily linked to mechanical abrasion. Caries prevalence was 7.36%, more frequent in females but with greater lesion severity in males. Dental calculus occurred in 39.5% of teeth and increased significantly with age. Ante-mortem tooth loss was observed in 16.4% of alveoli, being about 3.7 points higher in women. Alveolar bone loss was more frequent in men, though more advanced in women. Abscess frequency was very low (1%).
Conclusion
The findings indicate that the Euromos community relied on a cereal-based diet rich in hard and fibrous foods, supplemented with seafood and minimally processed meat, while the consumption of sugary and fermented carbohydrates was limited. These results provide significant insight into the oral and dental health of the Euromos community and allow meaningful comparisons with other contemporary Anatolian populations.
Keywords
Supporting Institution
The author declared that this study has received no financial support.
Ethical Statement
No need.
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Dentistry (Other)
Journal Section
Research Article
Publication Date
December 30, 2025
Submission Date
September 22, 2025
Acceptance Date
October 13, 2025
Published in Issue
Year 2025 Volume: 4 Number: 3