Date of Award
4-1997
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Anthropology
First Advisor
Dr. Robert I. Sundick
Second Advisor
Dr. Tal Simmons
Third Advisor
Dr. Norman Sullivan
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
The focus of this study is the dentition of a Midwestern United States historic almshouse population, the Milwaukee County Institutional Grounds cemetery (MCIG), 1882-1925. A survey of linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) in the anterior dentition of a subsample of this population has been conducted to demonstrate incidences of childhood stress. LEH is symptomatic of extended periods of disease or nutritional stress experienced during the formative years of tooth development.
A subsample of 140 individuals was examined for LEH. The labial surface of the anterior dentition was examined for the frequency and chronological distribution of LEH. The frequency of LEH ranges from 42.4 % on the left mandibular canine to 13.7% on the right maxillary lateral incisor. 58.6% of the individuals exhibited at least one incidence of LEH. The peak age of LEH occurrence varies dependant on which age conversion is employed, a constant velocity approach or a non-linear growth scale. The MCIG results are then compared to a number of other studies.
Recommended Citation
Polli, Maura K., "Childhood Health and Nutrition: An Exploration of Enamel Hypoplasia Studies Using the Milwaukee County Institutional Grounds Cemetery, 1882-1925" (1997). Masters Theses. 3947.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/3947