RT Journal Article
T1 Ancient dental calculus preserves signatures of biofilm succession and interindividual variation independent of dental pathology
A1 Velsko, Irina
A1 Semerau, Lena
A1 Inskip, Sarah A.
A1 García Collado, Maite I.
A1 Ziesemer, Kirsten
A1 Serrano Ruber, María
A1 Molero García, Jesús
A1 Gallego Valle, David
A1 Peña Ruiz, Ana Cristina
A1 Salazar García, Domingo Carlos
A1 Hoogland, Menno L.P.
A1 Benítez de Lugo Enrich, Luis
AB Dental calculus preserves oral microbes, enabling comparative studies of the oral microbiome and health through time. However, small sample sizes and limited dental health metadata have hindered health-focused investigations to date. Here, we investigate the relationship between tobacco pipe smoking and dental calculus microbiomes. Dental calculus from 75 individuals fromthe 19th century Middenbeemster skeletal collection (Netherlands) were analyzed by metagenomics. Demographic and dental health parameters were systematically recorded, including the presence/number of pipe notches. Comparative data sets fromEuropean populations before and after the introduction of tobaccowere also analyzed. Calculus species profileswere comparedwith oral pathology to examine associations between microbiome community, smoking behavior, and oral health status. The Middenbeemster individuals exhibited relatively poor oral health,with a high prevalence of periodontal disease, caries, heavy calculus deposits, and antemortem tooth loss.No associations between pipe notches and dental pathologies, or microbial species composition,were found. Calculus samples before and after the introduction of tobacco showed highly similar species profiles. Observed interindividual microbiome differences were consistent with previously described variation in human populations from the Upper Paleolithic to the present. Dental calculus may not preserve microbial indicators of health and disease status as distinctly as dental plaque.
PB National Academy of Sciences
SN 2752-6542
YR 2022
FD 2022-09
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/71938
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/71938
LA eng
NO Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN)
NO German Research Foundation (DFG)
NO Max Planck Society
NO Gobierno del País Vasco
NO Generalitat Valenciana
DS Docta Complutense
RD 6 abr 2025