Metric and Non-metric Traits of the Teeth in Past and Present Koreans.
10.11637/kjpa.1999.12.2.223
- Author:
Kyung Seok HU
1
;
Hyun Joo OH
;
Hyung Soon MOON
;
Min Kyu KANG
;
Jong Hoon CHOI
;
Kee Deog KIM
;
Doo Jin PAIK
;
Ki Seok KOH
;
Seung Ho HAN
;
Rak Hee CHUNG
;
Sun Joo PARK
;
Hee Jin KIM
Author Information
1. Division of Anatomy, Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Teeth;
Metric traits;
Non-metric traits;
Physical anthropology;
Past Koreans;
Present Koreans
- MeSH:
Anthropology, Physical;
Archaeology;
Bicuspid;
Esthetics;
Female;
Humans;
Incisor;
Korea;
Mastication;
Molar;
Phonation;
Tooth*
- From:Korean Journal of Physical Anthropology
1999;12(2):223-234
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Teeth play an important role in mastication and phonation as well as in esthetics. Since metric and non-metric characteristics of teeth can be used in anthropological comparison, archeology and identification, they are very important in physical anthropology, archeology and forensic odontology. However, this subject has rarely been studied in Koreans and therefore data on the anthropological characteristics are scarce. Researchers have measured 5 factors on each tooth and 9 non-metric characteristics of 1085 teeth collected from Gaya, Korea and Chosun people and 1397 teeth collected from the present Koreans (both female and male). Metric and non-metric traits of the teeth were compared in past and present Koreans. Comparing the measurement of the teeth in past and present Koreans, no difference in the faciolingual diameter was seen while slight difference was seen in the mesiodistal diameter of past and present Koreans. Non-metric traits of Koreans showed that 96.4% of past Koreans and 94.2% of present Koreans had shoveling in the maxillary central incisior while 93.1% of past Koreans and 90.6% of present Koreans had shoveling in the maxillary lateral incisor. Therefore shoveling was present in a higher rate in the past Koreans. The result on the comparison of the lingual cusp number on mandibular second premolars, showed that while past Koreans had 1 (48.0%) or 2 (52.0%) lingual cusps, present Koreans had 1 (52.3%), 2 (46.7%) or 3 (1.0%) lingual cusps. The Terra's tubercle was seen on the mesial surface in 53.7% of maxillary first premolar in the present Koreans and 48.7% of maxillary second premolar showed no tubercle. Meanwhile, past Koreans showed a higher rate of Terra's tubercle than present Koreans. Frequence of Carabelli's tubercle in the maxillary first molar was 18.4% in past Koreans and 36.2% in present Koreans. The most common form of occlusal groove pattern in the maxillary first molar was '4' (94.3% in past Koreans, 94.3% in present Koreans) and in the maxillary second molar was '4-' (40.5% in past Koreans, 76.5% in present Koreans). In both the past and present Koreans, The 'Y5' pattern of occlusal groove pattern was most common in the mandibular first molar and '+4' pattern in the mandibular second molar.
