Investigation of third molar tooth agenesis with radiological methods in medieval skeletons of Van Castle Mound 2010-2012

Introduction: Anthropology examines the metamorphoses and degrees of closeness between human beings and societies in general terms. Anthropology science is divided into the main branches of Biological Anthropology and Social / Cultural Anthropology and these main branches are divided into sub-branches within themselves (Şahin, 2016). Dental Anthropology is one of the sub-branches of Biological Anthropology. Dental Anthropology provides information about human living conditions, demographic characteristics, biological relationships in the context of kinship, nutritional tendencies, dental health, and cultural adaptations (Alt et al., 1998). Tooth agenesis is the name given to the eruption of less than 20 teeth in deciduous teeth and less than 32 teeth in permanent teeth. The main causes of tooth deficiency are; disruption of tooth embryos due to a trauma, chronic inflammations in the jaw, developmental and nutritional disorders, diseases of internal secretion glands and genetic effects (Küçüküçerler, 1978; Alt 1998). Anthropological science works together with many scientific disciplines. Radiological science is also among these disciplines (Spoor. et al. 2000, Dadalı 2016). Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the agenesis of the third molar tooth (M3) by performing morphological and radiological examination of the mandible and maxilla in the individuals excavated from the excavations of Van Castle Mound in Van Province in 2010-2012 and found in the Palaeoanthropology Laboratory of the Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Kırşehir Ahi Evran University. Method: Third molar agenesis was investigated in the skeletons of 125 individuals from 377 individuals in the skeletal laboratory, who had at least one part of the mandible and maxilla morphologically and radiologically suitable for examination. Results: Of the skeletons studied, 39.2% (n=49) were female skeletons, 44.8% (n=56) were male skeletons, 15.2% (n=19) were child skeletons of unknown sex and 0.8% (n=1) were adult skeletons of unknown sex. The rate of agenesis of any third molar tooth was found to be 20.8% (n=26) in all skeletons studied. The rate of agenesis in males was 28.6%. The rate of agenesis in females was 16.3%. Of the 118 skeletons with mandibular findings, 23.2% (n=29) had agenesis of the third molar tooth. 64.8% (n=81) had third molar teeth. 6.4% (n=8) had unidentifiable right or left mandible. In 12% (n=15) of the skeletons with maxilla findings, third molar tooth agenesis was present. 60.8% (n= 76) third molar teeth were present. 0.8% (n=1) right or left maxilla was unidentifiable. Conclusion: The rate of agenesis found in male skeletons is higher than in female skeletons. The rate of agenesis in males is 28.6%. The rate of agenesis in females is 16.3%. The rate of mandibular agenesis does not show a significant difference according to gender. Although the rate of maxillary agenesis is higher in males than females, there is no statistically significant difference. Key words: Agenesis, Anodontia, Hypodontia, Radiography, Tooth deficiency