Dentoalveolar paleopathology of the early modern humans from Zhirendong,South China

The fragmentary early Late Pleistocene, early modern human remains from Zhirendong, south China, present a suite of dentoalveolar pathologies and anomalies. The lesions include lower molar buccal alveolar resorption (Zhiren 1), massive dental caries in a mandibular molar associated with hypercementosis (Zhiren 2), and bilateral mesial premolar (P3) periapical lesions (granulomata with a probable left abscess) (Zhiren 3). The Zhiren 3 periapical lesions, given their bilaterality and the non-pathological incisor and canine alveoli, suggest dens evaginatus, although absence of the Zhiren 3 dentition prevents full evaluation of this diagnosis. These periodontal abnormalities join a number of similar lesions in Pleistocene humans, of varying severity. The carious lesion is noteworthy, given the rarity of them in the Pleistocene human fossil record. In addition, Zhiren 3 exhibits unilateral P3 rotation and bilateral I1 rotation (winging)

Dentoalveolar paleopathology of the early modern humans from Zhirendong,South China

The fragmentary early Late Pleistocene, early modern human remains from Zhirendong, south China, present a suite of dentoalveolar pathologies and anomalies. The lesions include lower molar buccal alveolar resorption (Zhiren 1), massive dental caries in a mandibular molar associated with hypercementosis (Zhiren 2), and bilateral mesial premolar (P3) periapical lesions (granulomata with a probable left abscess) (Zhiren 3). The Zhiren 3 periapical lesions, given their bilaterality and the non-pathological incisor and canine alveoli, suggest dens evaginatus, although absence of the Zhiren 3 dentition prevents full evaluation of this diagnosis. These periodontal abnormalities join a number of similar lesions in Pleistocene humans, of varying severity. The carious lesion is noteworthy, given the rarity of them in the Pleistocene human fossil record. In addition, Zhiren 3 exhibits unilateral P3 rotation and bilateral I1 rotation (winging).</p