This paper provides a survey of current research directions on the teeth belonging to archaeological human populations. The study of dental structures offers insights into estimating age at death, health status, paleodiet, and the use of teeth as a “third hand” and for cultural purposes. Various methods used to study the teeth are presented and discussed, such as those used to identify major dental diseases (e.g., caries, periapical lesions), estimating age at death and dental wear, determining dietary habits through stable isotope analysis. The advantages and limitations of these methods are shown, highlighting the impact of the preservation state of skeletal remains on data interpretation. Additionally, recent advancements in the field are emphasized, including the use of computed tomography and archaeo-genetics, which improve the accuracy of studies. This review contributes to better understanding the role of teeth in bioarchaeology with echo in research on current populations.
Keywords:- dental pathologies
- dental wear
- human health
- hypoplasia
- teeth