Original scientific paper
Orofacial Analysis on the Adriatic Islands: 1. The Island of Hvar as a Model for Odontogenetic Researches
T. Lauc
K. Schäfer
H. Prossinger
M. Šlaj
Abstract
This paper presents a preliminary orofacial analysis of a subadult population of
Hvar, a Croatian island in the Adriatic. Its population represents one of the last genetic
isolates in Europe and has therefore been the object of intensive crossdisciplinary research
over the last 30 years.We focussed on the coefficient of endogamy on the one hand
and malocclusal-related caries on the other hand, and expected differences in the latter
between subgroups of the population. We analyzed 224 dental casts from children all
over the island and found multiple caries in approximal surfaces in 55 percent of the
children, but no significant differences between the subpopulations. Instead, significantly
more caries affection was found in the boys than in the girls. The percentage of
general caries affection is fairly high, even when compared to other isolated populations;
it may be due to environmental influence. This would be consistent with the other
results, which have putatively been caused by complex environmental influences and
not solely by genetic components.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
17254
URI
Publication date:
16.6.2000.
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