[Comparative study between medieval (12th -14th c.) and modern skulls samples of five cranio-facial measures]. / Etude comparative de cinq mesures crânio-faciales entre un échantillon de cranes médiévaux (XIIe-XIVe siècles) et un échantillon contemporain.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare cephalometric norms of complete medieval skulls (n=35) with contemporary skulls (n=41), all from the same region, taking five craniofacial measures. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The medieval skulls were from different sites and tombs from southwestern France and contemporary skulls were those of students from the Faculty of Dental Surgery, Toulouse. A lateral cephalometric radiograph of each skull was obtained. All the skulls had to contain teeth and all anatomical reference points required for inclusion in the study. Cephalometric points were selected by inspection. The angles were chosen to evaluate the sagittal maxillo-mandibular relation, the cranial base flexion and the vertical dimension. RESULTS: Results showed that the ANB angle was wider in the medieval skulls (4.11 degrees vs 2.41 degrees ) but no significant difference for the cranial base flexion and the vertical dimension could be found between the two populations. DISCUSSION: We suggest there is no significant change in cephalometric norms over a period of approximately 800 years. Changes in lifestyle, diet, environment and populations intermixing do not appear to significantly affect cephalometric norms, although such factors are thought to affect dental occlusion.