1. The Correlation of Tooth Sizes and Jaw Dimensions with Biological Sex and Stature in a Contemporary Central European Population.
- Author
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Alt, Kurt W., Honrath, Nils, Weykamp, Maximilian, Grönebaum, Peter, Nicklisch, Nicole, and Vach, Werner
- Subjects
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DIETARY patterns , *SEX (Biology) , *HUMAN settlements , *FORENSIC dentistry , *MANDIBLE - Abstract
Simple Summary: Over the course of the past 3 million years, changes in human habitats, nutrition and behaviour have led to continuous processes of shape modification and size reduction in our jaws and teeth. These have resulted in the specific masticatory system observed today and the widespread need for orthodontic treatment. The aim of this study was to identify correlations between tooth sizes, jaw dimensions, biological sex and stature in a central European sample. We observed differences between women and men with regard to their tooth and jaw dimensions. In general, men's teeth, especially the canines, are larger. There are also differences in tooth sizes and jaw dimensions in relation to stature, with the canines again standing out. Our results help us to better understand the evolutionary trends affecting our teeth. They also indicate that, while the basic sexual dimorphisms of our primate ancestors have been retained, modern dietary habits will further intensify the reduction in the masticatory apparatus. Furthermore, the results provide sex-specific metric data of forensic significance, as well as clues as to why more and more people require orthodontic treatment, while suggesting possible causes for diachronic differences in tooth and jaw dimensions between populations. Dental anthropology provides a deep insight into biological, ecological and cultural aspects associated with human individuality, behaviour and living conditions and the environment. Our study uses a correlation analysis to test the metric relationships between tooth sizes and jaw dimensions and juxtaposes them with biological sex and stature. A sample of n = 100 dental casts was used to record metric dental data including the mesio-distal and bucco-lingual tooth crown diameters and nine upper and lower jaw dimensions. All crown diameters were highly correlated with both stature and biological sex, with the canines exhibiting the highest correlation. The majority of jaw dimensions exhibited similar correlations. Our results suggest that the differences between the sexes in most crown diameters and some jaw dimensions may be related to the stature of the individuals measured. Two groups of closely correlating features emerged among the jaw dimensions, differing in their degree of correlation with crown diameters and with sex. The results and insights obtained are highly relevant for evolutionary biology, dentistry, craniofacial research, bioarchaeology and forensic odontology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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