Imaging the past

BACKGROUND: Imaging advancements markedly enhance the assessment of skeletal and dental pathologies in clinical and archaeological contexts. Among the most frequently observed dental conditions in bioarcheological studies are periodontal disease and caries, both of which can provide valuable insights into systemic conditions (eg, cardiovascular disease). When identified in mummified remains, dental pathologies offer a unique perspective on the health status and disease burden of past populations and the interplay between oral and systemic health across human history. METHODS: Using a database of computed tomographic scans of Egyptian mummies, the authors investigated the prevalence and extent of dental pathologies, including periapical lucencies and teeth with caries, and the distance from the cementoenamel junction to the alveolar crest. Regression analyses were used to examine the associations between oral health variables and vascular pathology. RESULTS: Advanced demineralization, indicative of destructive carious processes, and periodontal disease were highly prevalent in this mummified cohort. Furthermore, oral pathologies were determined to be correlated with the number of calcified vascular beds, although these findings were not independent of age- or sex-related effects at large. CONCLUSIONS: The authors established evidence of periodontitis, teeth with caries, and impacted teeth in mummified remains, along with correlations between oral health and cardiovascular disease. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Findings from these ancient remains highlight the long-standing presence of oral disease, reinforcing that oral health problems are not only modern. For contemporary clinicians, this historical perspective underscores the value of culturally sensitive dentistry and how population behaviors contribute to distinct oral health challenges.