Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Via Rovelli 50, Foggia, 71122, Italy.
Department of Surgical Sciences, Dental School, University of Turin, Turin, 10127, Italy.
BMC Oral Health. 2024 Mar 22;24(1):370. doi: 10.1186/s12903-024-04154-4.
Historically, the prevalence of caries has undergone significant changes, particularly increasing with the industrialization of sugar consumption. When examining ancient populations, lower caries rates are discovered, attributed in part to dietary factors. These populations consumed abrasive foods, leading to occlusal wear and reduced non-axial occlusal forces, potentially influencing Non-Carious Cervical Lesions (NCCLs). Although some attribute NCCLs to abfraction, the mechanism remains debated. This systematic review aims to evaluate the presence of NCCLs in ancient populations, shedding light on the factors contributing to their occurrence.
The present systematic review was registered on PROSPERO, and the manuscript was prepared following PRISMA guidelines.
After the literature search and article screening, data from 6 studies were included in the meta-analysis, with only 2 reporting NCCLs in ancient skulls, encopassing 17 subjects in 805 examined skulls, suggesting their presence even before the widespread use of toothbrushes. This finding indicates a potential etiopathogenic mechanism linked to abfraction, but the cause is complex and involves abrasive and erosive factors closely tied to dietary habits.
In summary, NCCLs were present in ancient populations, albeit with a much lower prevalence. Their occurrence cannot be solely attributed to wear mechanisms but must be connected to abrasive factors related to diet or practices with religious and cultural significance, such as the use of labrets.
Th the knowledge of NCCLs presence in acient sculls is crucial today for better understand the associated risk factors. In this context, the analysis of ancient skulls allows us to discern the role that tooth brushing and diet played in the formation of NCCLs, over the past century.
历史上，龋齿的患病率发生了显著变化，尤其是随着糖消费的工业化，患病率有所上升。在研究古代人群时，发现龋齿患病率较低，部分归因于饮食因素。这些人群食用粗糙的食物，导致咬合磨损和非轴向咬合力减少，这可能影响非龋性颈损伤（NCCLs）。尽管有人将 NCCLs 归因于磨损，但其机制仍存在争议。本系统评价旨在评估古代人群中 NCCLs 的存在情况，揭示导致其发生的因素。
本系统评价已在 PROSPERO 上注册，并按照 PRISMA 指南准备了手稿。
经过文献搜索和文章筛选，6 项研究的数据纳入荟萃分析，只有 2 项研究报告了古代颅骨中的 NCCLs，共纳入 17 名受试者，涉及 805 个检查颅骨，表明其甚至在广泛使用牙刷之前就存在。这一发现表明存在与磨损相关的潜在病因发病机制，但病因复杂，涉及与饮食习惯密切相关的粗糙和侵蚀因素。
总之，NCCLs 存在于古代人群中，尽管患病率较低。其发生不能仅归因于磨损机制，而必须与与饮食或具有宗教和文化意义的实践相关的粗糙因素相关，例如使用唇饰。
了解古代颅骨中 NCCLs 的存在对更好地了解相关危险因素至关重要。在这种情况下，对古代颅骨的分析使我们能够辨别在过去一个世纪中，刷牙和饮食在 NCCLs 形成中所起的作用。
