Abstract
This thesis examines the patterns of oral health in Milan, Italy through the study of dental caries and periodontal disease in skeletal remains from the Roman, Early Medieval, Late Medieval, Modern, and Contemporary periods. Oral disease provides insight into diet, hygiene, inequality, and access to healthcare, making it possible to explore trends in oral health over time.The data comes from the CAL Milano Cemetery Skeletal Collection. Caries were recorded from all available posterior teeth, severe caries was defined as destruction of more than 50% of the crown. Periodontal disease was scored at the canine and second molar of the mandible. Logistic regression was used to test the effects of sex and time period on oral disease outcomes.
Results indicate that dental caries and periodontal disease were quite common over time for both sexes. Sex was significant in the models for caries frequency and periodontal disease at the second molar. Time period varied significantly for both types of lesions in all analyses. The Contemporary period, in particular, was characterized by poor oral health, which may reflect the
increased consumption of refined sugars and processed carbohydrates along with significant socio-political upheaval during the 20th century that likely impacted access to resources. This thesis shows how teeth preserve important evidence of lived experience and that oral pathology can be used to investigate long-term patterns of health and inequality in past populations.