Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana, Burgos, Spain.
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain.
Am J Biol Anthropol. 2024 Jun;184(2):e24913. doi: 10.1002/ajpa.24913. Epub 2024 Feb 27.
Dental anthropological investigations into sexual dimorphism have conventionally concentrated on evaluating the dimensions and configuration of the enamel cap of canines. However, the morphology of the crown dentine surface can be closely linked to that of the enamel surface. This link can facilitate examination of crown morphology even when the enamel surface is slightly worn. Here, we determine if the morphology of the enamel-dentine junction (EDJ) differs within (maxillary vs. mandibular) and between a sample of male (n = 26) and female (n = 21) contemporary human permanent canines from Europe.
The morphological data of the EDJ were gathered employing a template comprising 96 landmarks and sliding semilandmarks. Subsequently, the data underwent analysis through form space principal component analysis following Procrustes registration, utilizing standard 3D geometric morphometric techniques.
Significant differences in the morphology of the EDJ were observed between the sexes, particularly concerning the overall shape of the crown, the symmetry of the mesial and distal edges, and the development of the distal accessory ridge.
Sex differences in the morphology of the EDJ could relate in part to retention of the canine-premolar honing complex in males. Our results indicate that analyses of the permanent canine EDJ may potentially provide a novel method for estimating the sex of adult and nonadult skeletons.
牙人类学的性别二态性研究传统上集中于评估犬齿釉质帽的尺寸和形态。然而，牙冠牙本质表面的形态可以与釉质表面密切相关。这种联系可以方便地检查牙冠形态，即使釉质表面略有磨损。在这里，我们确定来自欧洲的一组男性（n=26）和女性（n=21）当代人类恒犬齿的内（上颌与下颌）和之间的釉牙骨质界（EDJ）形态是否存在差异。
使用包含 96 个标志点和滑动半标志点的模板来收集 EDJ 的形态数据。然后，通过 Procrustes 配准后的形态空间主成分分析，利用标准的 3D 几何形态测量技术对数据进行分析。
在性别之间观察到 EDJ 形态存在显著差异，特别是在牙冠的整体形状、近远中边缘的对称性以及远中副嵴的发育方面。
EDJ 形态的性别差异可能部分与雄性保留犬齿-前磨牙珩磨复合体有关。我们的结果表明，对永久犬齿 EDJ 的分析可能为估计成人和非成人骨骼的性别提供一种新方法。
