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The effects of aging and tooth loss to the microstructure of the mandible in South Africans

Thesis (PhD (Anatomy))--University of Pretoria, 2022.

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Other Authors: Oettle, Anna Catherina
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2022
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Oettle, Anna Catherina
author_browse Oettle, Anna Catherina
author_facet Oettle, Anna Catherina
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2022 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Thesis (PhD (Anatomy))--University of Pretoria, 2022.
format Thesis
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:39:54.561Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2022
publishDateRange 2022
publishDateSort 2022
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
record_format dspace
source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/85723 The effects of aging and tooth loss to the microstructure of the mandible in South Africans Oettle, Anna Catherina charlotte.theye@gmail.com Steyn, Maryna Theye, Charlotte E.G. Cortical thickness Cortical density Micro-CT Edentulism Senescence CBCT Biological Anthropology Anatomy Health sciences theses SDG-03 Thesis (PhD (Anatomy))--University of Pretoria, 2022. The mandible plays a crucial role in many biological functions (especially mastication, swallowing and speech) and its efficiency to perform these functions depends on its intactness. Aging and tooth loss are biological processes that may compromise the normal functioning of the mandible by changing its morphology. While many studies address the macroscopic mandibular variations, there is a paucity regarding its microstructure. The aim was to investigate microstructural mandibular changes, with reference to the macrostructure, with advancing age and across various tooth loss patterns in South Africans. As the reasons why individuals are differently affected (extent, rate) by senescence or tooth loss are unclear, the influence of other biological factors (sex, ancestry) was also considered. Using micro-focus X-ray Computed Tomography (micro-CT) scans of 333 mandibles, external dimensions, and inner parameters, namely the cortical thickness (CtTh) and cortical density (approximated by histomorphometric parameters, BV/TV) were measured. To assess whether the mandible ages in the same way and rate as the rest of the skeleton, a comparison of mandibular and femoral cortical BV/TV, using a micro-CT subsample of 68 individuals, was included. A comprehensive assessment of the mandibular morphology and cortical microstructure of fully dentate individuals highlighted that the smaller the alveolar height is, the thicker and denser the cortical bone. An inner cortical asymmetry between basal, buccal, and lingual areas was described for CtTh, but was absent for BV/TV. Sexual dimorphism and ancestral variations were confirmed for the external distances and CtTh, but not for BV/TV. With tooth loss, a general decrease in external distances (aggravated by edentulism), CtTh and BV/TV was observed, except at the midline where the lingual CtTh increased with edentulism. Sexual dimorphism and ancestral variations of the external dimensions and CtTh were emphasised in edentulous mandibles. The cortical density decreased with aging, corroborating the general decline in bone mass of the skeleton, as noted in the femur. By contrasting the effects of tooth loss and aging, it was concluded that both external distances and CtTh were mainly influenced by tooth loss and not age, whereas the cortical bone density displayed an age-related decrease independent of tooth loss. To ascertain the applicability of the findings in a dental setting, where Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) is commonly used, measurements were performed on 24 mandibles scanned by both CBCT and micro-CT (considered as the reference). The accuracy and repeatability of CBCT was confirmed for large-scale measurements, and CtTh in a lesser manner, whereas results were uncertain for BV/TV, revealing a distinct lack of reliability. In conclusion, this thesis inferred the precise role of aging and tooth loss, but also sex and ancestry, on the variations of the mandibular macro- and microstructure. Not only does knowledge and understanding of these changes have implications in dentistry fields, as cortical thickness and density are essential for many dental procedures; but also in biological anthropology, in which the microstructure of extant human mandibles gives valuable insights into intra- and interspecific variations (e.g., sexual dimorphism), or functional considerations (mastication, diet) of archaeological/fossil specimens. em2025 Anatomy PhD (Anatomy) Unrestricted SDG-03: Good health and well-being 2022-06-07T11:08:49Z 2022-06-07T11:08:49Z 2022 2022 Thesis * S2022 https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/85723 https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.20005571 https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.20005571 en © 2022 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle Cortical thickness
Cortical density
Micro-CT
Edentulism
Senescence
CBCT
Biological Anthropology
Anatomy
Health sciences theses SDG-03
The effects of aging and tooth loss to the microstructure of the mandible in South Africans
title The effects of aging and tooth loss to the microstructure of the mandible in South Africans
title_full The effects of aging and tooth loss to the microstructure of the mandible in South Africans
title_fullStr The effects of aging and tooth loss to the microstructure of the mandible in South Africans
title_full_unstemmed The effects of aging and tooth loss to the microstructure of the mandible in South Africans
title_short The effects of aging and tooth loss to the microstructure of the mandible in South Africans
title_sort effects of aging and tooth loss to the microstructure of the mandible in south africans
topic Cortical thickness
Cortical density
Micro-CT
Edentulism
Senescence
CBCT
Biological Anthropology
Anatomy
Health sciences theses SDG-03
url https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/85723
https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.20005571
https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.20005571