Date Approved

2016

Date Posted

4-27-2016

Degree Type

Open Access Senior Honors Thesis

Department or School

Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology

First Advisor

Megan K. Moore

Second Advisor

Liza Cerroni-Long

Abstract

This research focuses on the etiology of temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJD), specifically osteoarthritis (OA) of the jaw. The population samples studied include early medieval skeletal remains from Saleux, France (n=40) and a modem population samples reported from the studies conducted by Rando and Waldron (2012), Emodi-Perlman et al. (2012), and Yadav (2011 ). When studying the etiology of OA, this research looks at the role of fluoroquinolones and dental attrition as possible factors. Fluoroquinolones are anti-inflammatory drugs that can cause rupture in the Achilles tendon; dental attrition is the wear on teeth from tooth on tooth contact. Although there has been a dramatic increase in the frequency of TMJD between the early Middle Ages in Europe and today, the results of this study cannot conclusively identify fluoroquinolones or dental attrition as the culprit for OA of the temporomandibular joint.

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