Orthodontic aspects on a skull collection from the Carmelite monastery in New Varberg.

During an excavation of the Carmelite monastery in New Varberg, 178 skeletons were found. Many of the skulls were in a bad condition. Thus, the material in the present study consists of 12 complete and 47 partial skulls (maxilla and/or mandible) of 22 monks and 37 ordinary inhabitants. The information collected involved direct inspection of the skulls, segments of the jaws and radiographic examination of the complete skulls. Malocclusion, attrition, temporomandibular joints and arch dimensions were analysed. From the results it is tempting to assume that lack of forceful masticatory function and consequent absence of evenly distributed attrition and observed differences in craniofacial morphology can be a major explanation to the high prevalence of severe malocclusion in modern man.