Dental Health in Viking Age Icelanders

• Main Authors: Richter, S; Faculty of Odontology, University of Iceland; [e-mail], Eliasson, ST; Faculty of Odontology, University of Iceland
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: International Association for Paleodontology; [e-mail] 2008
• Subjects: Paleodontology; Skeljastadir; Iceland
• Online Access: http://hrcak.srce.hr/32500; http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/51724

The purpose of the study was to evaluate dental health in Iceland 1000 years ago. Fifty-one skulls were available for research. There were 1001 teeth present in the 51 available skeletons. There was significantly more tooth wear in the age group 36 years and older (p<0.05), than in the 18-to-35-year-old age group but no significant difference between sexes. The highest rate of tooth wear was found in first molars, and the lowest in third molars. Heavy tooth wear can be explained by consumption of acidic drinks and food in addition to coarse diet. The main cause of the wear was most likely coarse and rough diet, dried fish and meat.