Sexual dimorphism in modern human permanent teeth

Bibliographic Data

ID8319031
AuthorsGary T Schwartz (0000-0003-4428-2102, Arizona State University, corresponding author), M Christopher Dean (University College London)
Year2005
Volume128
Issue2
Pages312-317
Publication date2005-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-9483 • E-ISSN: 1096-8644
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajpa.20211
PMID15861426
OpenAlexW1983811929
LanguageEN
Citations received53
References cited37

On average, males possess larger tooth crowns than females in contemporary human populations, although the degree of dimorphism varies within different populations. In previous studies, different amounts of either enamel or dentine were implicated as the cause of this dimorphism. In this study, we attempt to determine the nature of sexual dimorphism in the crowns of permanent modern human teeth and to determine if two contrasting tooth types (permanent third molars and canines) show identical patterns of dimorphism in enamel and dentine distribution. We estimated the relative contributions of both enamel and dentine to total crown size, from buccolingual sections of teeth. Our sample consisted of a total of 144 mandibular permanent third molars and 25 permanent mandibular canines of known sex. We show that sexual dimorphism is likely due, in part, to the presence of relatively more dentine in the crowns of male teeth. However, whatever the underlying cause, dimorphism in both tooth root and tooth crown size should produce measurable dimorphism in tooth weight, though this has not been previously explored. Therefore, we provide some preliminary data that indicate the usefulness of wet tooth weight as a measure of sexual dimorphism. Both male permanent third molars and canines are significantly heavier than those of females. The weight dimorphism reported here for both classes of teeth may prove a useful finding for future forensic studies. In particular, weights of canines may be more useful as a means of sexing modern human skeletal material than linear or area measurements of teeth

Biology · Canine tooth · Crown (dentistry) · Enamel paint · Human tooth · Molar · Permanent teeth · Sexing · Sexual dimorphism · Tooth crown · Zoology · Anatomy · dental development and anomalies · Dentistry · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · Medicine · Orthodontics · Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

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