The Effects of Environment on Teeth of Egyptian Nubians and Ugandans: An Anthropological Comparative Study

Abstract

From the dental anthropological point of view, the study of the effect of some environmental factors on the human being teeth is considered to be an important issue for different populations.

Environmental conditions, nature of food and fluid intake including drinking water, can affect the composition, crystalline arrangement of the hydroxy-apatite and the surface texture of the teeth specially the enamel. This is due to the fact that dental enamel presents the outer structure of the tollth which can be considered as an excellent archive related to living habits, nutrition and mobility of the ancient as well as the modern human.

In the present work a detailed study of the relationship between environmental conditions, nature of food and potable water on the . following teeth parameters is performed:

• Teeth dimensions.

• Enamel microhardness.

• Surface roughness of dental enamel.

• Elemental composition of the enamel structure.

• The crystalline arrangement and structure of the enamel .

The teeth samples utilized through out the work were obtained from:

!-Ugandans (Buganda tribe) living in Kampala.

2- Egyptian Nubians living in south Egypt inKom Ombo.

A total of 661 extracted teeth from Egyptian Nubians adults, males and females and 649 extracted teeth from Ugandans adults were studied. All samples were documented with its personal data, such as age, sex, occupation and tribe.