Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2006. / Title from title screen (site viewed on Oct. 19, 2006). PDF text: vii, 264 p. : ill., maps ; 4.73Mb. UMI publication number: AAT 3209966. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in microfilm, microfiche and paper formats.

Dental calculus is a complex biological material that has been found to provide significant evidence of past population diet, health and habitual activity. It is composed of mineral phases, trace elements, organic species and can have inclusions such as starch granules and microfossils incorporated into its structure. This composition has been found to vary among individuals, although the reasons for this are poorly understood. Despite this, there is a wealth of knowledge that can be gained from analysing this biomineral, especially from archaeological remains. In past populations, the variables that affect composition, such as pharmaceuticals and diet are reduced compared to modern populations. As such the reliance on clinical studies that have investigated dental calculus from modern individuals, may be flawed when considering past populations. The focus of this study was to provide insight about the variation in physical characterisation and composition of archaeological dental calculus. Despite there being an abundance of archaeological dental calculus research, this is the first large scale compositional study of specimens from three separate past populations. In addition, this research is the first study to adopt a non-destructive to destructive approach to archaeological dental calculus analysis. As well, it is the first application of nanocomputed tomography to dental calculus from past populations. Consequently, this study demonstrates the first evidence of accumulation layering that has been detected using non- estructive nano-computed tomography. Furthermore, this research has identified three types of layering in archaeological dental calculus. Due to these findings, it is expected that this research will impact the future of dental calculus analysis, especially when considering dental calculus as a method of mapping an individual’s health, diet or lifestyle in the weeks or months prior to death. The overall results of this thesis demonstrate that some aspects of the morphological, mineralogical and elemental analysis of archaeological dental calculus are inconsistent with clinical literature. The results have also shown that there are some differences between the dental calculus from different archaeological populations which can be related to post-mortem burial conditions.

Magister Scientiae - MSc / Teeth are often used to assist in the identification of human bodies after death, especially in cases where the body is badly burned or decomposed, as teeth are usually preserved for a long period of time, even after most of the other tissues of the body have decomposed. Age estimation can play a significant role in order to help narrow down the spectrum of possible identities, for example from the missing person’s database. Gustafson created a method of age estimation, using 6 age-related changes of teeth that occur after the eruption of the dentition. He then compiled a regression line from which the age of a tooth donor could be determined by examining attrition, change of the level of the periodontal attachment, secondary dentine deposition in the pulp, resorption of the root, apposition of cementum and translucency of the root. Gustafson’s method of age estimation was based on Europeans from Sweden. This age estimation method has been used on unidentified individuals at the Salt River and the Tygerberg medicolegal laboratories, but the accuracy is questionable as to whether the method is applicable to the population of the Western Cape. The aim and objectives of this study were to test the accuracy of Gustafson’s method on a sample of adults of known chronological age, to determine the degree of accuracy of the method and to evaluate the consistency of the method. Extracted mandibular central and lateral incisors and maxillary central incisors were used in this study. Two examiners independently used Gustafson’s method of age estimation to estimate the ages of the donors of the teeth. This method was found to be inaccurate when applied to a sample of the adult population of the Western Cape.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:49:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:01:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 10285.pdf: 2643470 bytes, checksum: b6f3bae428ffe94f757fc8db657e86bc (MD5) / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:49:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:02:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 09632.pdf: 8840425 bytes, checksum: 110f6afbdd4a0182b9d4cc4afcf540f3 (MD5) / Dissertacao (Mestrado Profissionalizante em Lasers em Odontologia) / IPEN/D-MPLO / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares, IPEN/CNEN-SP; Faculdade de Odontologia, Universidade de Sao Paulo

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:54:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:07:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 12797.pdf: 513559 bytes, checksum: 4b6e71bdbea803b32a3222d0b42f7b13 (MD5) / Dissertacao (Mestrado Profissionalizante em Lasers em Odontologia) / IPEN/D-MPLO / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP; Faculdade de Odontologia, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:49:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:01:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 10285.pdf: 2643470 bytes, checksum: b6f3bae428ffe94f757fc8db657e86bc (MD5) / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:49:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:02:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 09632.pdf: 8840425 bytes, checksum: 110f6afbdd4a0182b9d4cc4afcf540f3 (MD5) / Dissertacao (Mestrado Profissionalizante em Lasers em Odontologia) / IPEN/D-MPLO / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares, IPEN/CNEN-SP; Faculdade de Odontologia, Universidade de Sao Paulo

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:54:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:07:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 12797.pdf: 513559 bytes, checksum: 4b6e71bdbea803b32a3222d0b42f7b13 (MD5) / Dissertacao (Mestrado Profissionalizante em Lasers em Odontologia) / IPEN/D-MPLO / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP; Faculdade de Odontologia, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo

Magister Scientiae Dentium - MSc(Dent) / The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence, etiology and types of injuries to permanent incisors among schoolchildren aged 10-14 years from Maseru, Lesotho. Upper and lower permanent incisors were examined for dental injuries. / South Africa