The depth of the lingual fossa in permanent maxillary incisors of East Greenland Eskimos. II. Side asymmetry, sex differences, comparison of centrals and laterals and anthropologic aspects.

Maxillary incisor lingual fossa depth was measured on casts of East Greenland Eskimo dentitions. No directional side asymmetry was found. The present study is the only which shows mean lingual fossa depth to be significantly deeper in the female than in the male. Larger incisor strength in the females is functional as the females are known to use their incisors as tools. The present investigation shows that on the question of sex differences conclusions should be drawn for the examined population only, and that generalization to other populations should be avoided. Mean lingual fossa depths were significantly different for centrals and laterals, but the laterals demonstrate special lack of reduction in this population. Lack of reduction of incisors together with frequent agenesis of third molars demonstrate that the posterior dentition may reduce independently of the anterior dentition. Mean lingual fossa depth, and relative fossa depth, in East Greenland Eskimos clearly show Mongoloid values.