Objectives: This study aimed to measure crown size in different age groups of a well-characterised Romano-British population to determine the effects of attrition and establish sound data for comparison with other populations. Materials and methods: From the collection in the British Museum of Romano-British adult skeletons excavated from Poundbury, 110 skulls with intact dentitions (59 males and 51 females) were selected randomly and allocated into four age groups; 14-24; 25-34; 35-45; over 45 based on established criteria. The mesio-distal diameter of each permanent tooth was measured on two separate occasions by each of two operators and the average dimension for each tooth type in each age group calculated. Results: The intra-operator reproducibility for different tooth types ranged from r=0.92 to 0.99. Inter-operator reproducibility ranged from r=0.74 to 0.99. The mesio-distal diameter for each tooth type was less in older age groups (p<0.01). The greatest reduction was in upper and lower incisors and upper first molars, and the least in lower second molars, upper second premolars and third molars. Males showed greater approximal attrition than females. The average total arch length reduction between age groups 1 and 4 was 10.9mm in the upper jaw and 6.5mm in the lower jaw. The mesio-distal crown size showed sex dimorphism, with males having larger teeth. Tooth size of the youngest age group was smaller than a modern British white Caucasian sample. The attrition was slightly greater than for mediaeval Swedes and considerably greater than modern Swedes. Conclusions: In this Romano-British sample all tooth types showed reduction in mesio-distal diameter with increasing age, although the extent varied between the jaws and tooth types. Initial tooth size was smaller than comparable modern populations and attrition over time was much greater.

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