Dental Anthropology
Specimen No. MR 2. 41
(adult, male) Maxillary alveolar abscess. The robust jaws and large teeth of
this individual sustained heavy masticatory forces, a stress that often
contributes to the formation of abscesses. The maxillary lateral alveolar
crest and wall, at the upper RM1, are discontinuous and the roots of this
tooth are exposed. This lesion exhibits classic s of an alveolar (vs.
periapical) abscess. Differences in frequency of these two types of
abscesses may have implications for understanding dental health of earlier
human populations.
by John R. Lukacs
