Measuring the speed of life. A comparative study of enamel growth rates variations in archaeological and modern deciduous teeth

The mineralized tissues of human teeth contain a wealth of information about the intrauterine life (in deciduous teeth) and the early life of an individual, including growth trajectories, records of physiological stresses, dietary shifts and mobility patterns. To date, different works focused on permanent and deciduous dentition both in archaeological and contemporary children, but less attention was dedicated to the growth curves of the dental crown. This study presents a diachronic comparison of enamel growth rates variations, in deciduous teeth collected from the available literature and original unpublished data. The archaeological specimens derive from different sites in ancient Italy, and span between 6th cent. BC and 8th cent. CE. The modern specimens date to 20th cent. pre-antibiotic era and to the contemporary period. The findings of the present work indicate a deceleration in growth trajectories over time, with posterior teeth exhibiting a slightly slower growth rate compared to anterior teeth.