Sexual dimorphism in teeth? Clinical relevance. 2012

Ralf J Radlanski, and Herbert Renz, and Werner Hopfenmüller
Center for Dental and Craniofacial Sciences, Dept. of Craniofacial Developmental Biology, Charité - Campus Benjamin Franklin at Freie Universität Berlin, Assmannshauser Str. 4-6, 14197 Berlin, Germany. ralfj.radlanski@charite.de

Many morphometric studies show a sexual dimorphism in human teeth. We wanted to know whether it is possible to determine the sex of an individual if only the anterior teeth are visible. Fifty intraoral photographs showing the front tooth region of female and male individuals (age: from 7 to 75 years) were randomly arranged in actual size on a questionnaire. The lip region was covered in each case. Besides "female" and "male", one was also able to check "?" if undecided. The questionnaires were distributed to 50 expert test persons (dentists, dental technicians, dental assistants, and students of dental medicine) and to 50 laymen and were all returned for evaluation. Although the correct sex was recognized on single photographs to a maximum of 76%, it was incorrect in 69% on other photographs. Altogether, the statistical evaluation showed that in most cases, the sex was only recognized correctly by one half, and incorrect by the other half. It can be concluded that a sexual dimorphism of human teeth-although measurable morphometrically-could not be recognized visually on the basis of photographs of the front tooth region. Neither experts in the field of dentistry nor laymen were able to properly distinguish between male and female teeth.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007180 Incisor Any of the eight frontal teeth (four maxillary and four mandibular) having a sharp incisal edge for cutting food and a single root, which occurs in man both as a deciduous and a permanent tooth. (Jablonski, Dictionary of Dentistry, 1992, p820) Incisors
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009811 Odontometry Measurement of tooth characteristics.
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D003481 Cuspid The third tooth to the left and to the right of the midline of either jaw, situated between the second INCISOR and the premolar teeth (BICUSPID). (Jablonski, Dictionary of Dentistry, 1992, p817) Canine Tooth,Canine Teeth,Cuspids,Teeth, Canine,Tooth, Canine
D003726 Dental Assistants Individuals who assist the dentist or the dental hygienist. Dental Nurses,Nurses, Dental,Assistant, Dental,Assistants, Dental,Dental Assistant,Dental Nurse,Nurse, Dental
D003800 Dental Technicians Individuals responsible for fabrication of dental appliances. Dental Technician,Technician, Dental,Technicians, Dental
D003815 Dentists Individuals licensed to practice DENTISTRY. Dentists, Pediatric,Dentists, Prosthetic,Dentists, Restorative,Periodontists,Prosthodontists,Dentist,Dentist, Pediatric,Dentist, Prosthetic,Dentist, Restorative,Pediatric Dentist,Pediatric Dentists,Periodontist,Prosthetic Dentist,Prosthetic Dentists,Prosthodontist,Restorative Dentist,Restorative Dentists
D005260 Female Females

Related Publications

Ralf J Radlanski, and Herbert Renz, and Werner Hopfenmüller
January 1968, Journal of dental research,
Ralf J Radlanski, and Herbert Renz, and Werner Hopfenmüller
October 2005, American journal of physical anthropology,
Ralf J Radlanski, and Herbert Renz, and Werner Hopfenmüller
July 2011, Forensic science international,
Ralf J Radlanski, and Herbert Renz, and Werner Hopfenmüller
April 2017, Journal of clinical and diagnostic research : JCDR,
Ralf J Radlanski, and Herbert Renz, and Werner Hopfenmüller
January 1979, Archives of oral biology,
Ralf J Radlanski, and Herbert Renz, and Werner Hopfenmüller
January 1984, Journal of dental research,
Ralf J Radlanski, and Herbert Renz, and Werner Hopfenmüller
April 1993, Bollettino della Societa italiana di biologia sperimentale,
Ralf J Radlanski, and Herbert Renz, and Werner Hopfenmüller
April 2016, Collegium antropologicum,
Ralf J Radlanski, and Herbert Renz, and Werner Hopfenmüller
January 1978, American journal of physical anthropology,
Ralf J Radlanski, and Herbert Renz, and Werner Hopfenmüller
August 2004, Annals of anatomy = Anatomischer Anzeiger : official organ of the Anatomische Gesellschaft,
Copied contents to your clipboard!