Furcal defects in dry mandibles. Part I: A biometric study.

Two hundred and eighty-eight first and second molar teeth in 100 dry mandibles from South African Negro skulls were examined for the presence of furcal defects. The depths of the furcal defects were measured. Analysis of the measurements showed that: (1) first molars are more severely affected than second molars; (2) the buccal sides of furcae are more severely affected than the lingual; (3) mean furcal depth increases markedly from the 3rd decade of life to the 4th in all surfaces examined. Because the analysis is complicated by through-and-through defects, no unequivocal trend can be shown; and (4) there is no difference between the furcal depths on the left and right sides.