Observations on dental-oral health conditions of Gharb schoolchildren

Abstract

The village of Gharb affords a colourful glimpse into the past. Gharb is Gozo's westermost parish and the origins of the village date back to ancient times. Gliarb was inhabited since early times. This corner of Gozo, fairly distant from all the better landing places was perhaps a relatively safer area in which to live during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The village was granted parish status just over three hundred years ago, when by a decree dated August 29,1679, it ceased to form part of the parish of Rabat. A petition with this request in the name of about 500 villagers who lived in eighty houses and farms at Gharb and its environs had been sent to the Bishop of Gozo on August 11,1679. A general glance at old records shows that death was a common occurrence and infant mortality was very high. One wonders what their general and dental-oral health was like at that time.