Dimorphism in dental tissues: Sex differences in archaeological individuals for multiple tooth types

Christianne Fernée; Sonia Zakrzewski; Kate Robson Brown

doi:10.1002/ajpa.24174

Dimorphism in dental tissues: Sex differences in archaeological individuals for multiple tooth types

Christianne Fernée^*
, Sonia Zakrzewski
, Kate Robson Brown

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objectives
Dimorphism in the dentition has been observed in human populations worldwide. However, research has largely focused on traditional linear crown measurements. As imaging systems, such as micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), become increasingly more accessible, new dental measurements such as dental tissue size and proportions can be obtained. This research investigates the variation of dental tissues and proportions by sex in archaeological samples.

Materials and Methods
Upper and lower first incisor to second premolar tooth rows were obtained from 30 individuals (n = 300), from 3 archaeological samples. The teeth were micro-CT scanned and surface area and volumetric measurements were obtained from the surface meshes extracted. Dental wear was also recorded and differences between sexes determined.

Results
Enamel and crown measurements were found to be larger in females. Conversely, dentine and root measurements were larger in males.

Discussion
The findings support the potential use of dental tissues to estimate sex of individuals from archaeological samples, while also indicating that individuals aged using current dental aging methods may be underaged or overaged due to sex differences in enamel thickness.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	106-127
Number of pages	22
Journal	American Journal of Physical Anthropology
Volume	175
Issue number	1
Early online date	27 Nov 2020
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.24174
Publication status	Published - 1 May 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
British Association for Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology, Grant/Award Number: Research Grant; SWWDTP, Grant/Award Number: PhD Studentship Funding information

Funding Information:
This research formed part of C. Fernée's PhD thesis which was funded by the SWWDTP‐AHRC and BABAO. The authors thank the National Museum of Wales for the access the Llandough material, University of Southampton Department of Archaeology for the access to the Great Chesterford material and University of Bristol Department of Anthropology and Archaeology for the access to the Taunton material. The authors acknowledge the μ‐VIS Centre at the University of Southampton, the National Composites Centre (NCC) and the Sumitomo Laboratory, Swansea for provision of their respective tomographic imaging facilities.

Funding Information:
This research formed part of C. Fern?e's PhD thesis which was funded by the SWWDTP-AHRC and BABAO. The authors thank the National Museum of Wales for the access the Llandough material, University of Southampton Department of Archaeology for the access to the Great Chesterford material and University of Bristol Department of Anthropology and Archaeology for the access to the Taunton material. The authors acknowledge the ?-VIS Centre at the University of Southampton, the National Composites Centre (NCC) and the Sumitomo Laboratory, Swansea for provision of their respective tomographic imaging facilities.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

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10.1002/ajpa.24174Licence: Unspecified

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.11.27.401448v1

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@article{5ea0dc30ba4742d0a82fba5c3fc78fe6,

title = "Dimorphism in dental tissues: Sex differences in archaeological individuals for multiple tooth types",

abstract = "Objectives Dimorphism in the dentition has been observed in human populations worldwide. However, research has largely focused on traditional linear crown measurements. As imaging systems, such as micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), become increasingly more accessible, new dental measurements such as dental tissue size and proportions can be obtained. This research investigates the variation of dental tissues and proportions by sex in archaeological samples. Materials and Methods Upper and lower first incisor to second premolar tooth rows were obtained from 30 individuals (n = 300), from 3 archaeological samples. The teeth were micro-CT scanned and surface area and volumetric measurements were obtained from the surface meshes extracted. Dental wear was also recorded and differences between sexes determined. Results Enamel and crown measurements were found to be larger in females. Conversely, dentine and root measurements were larger in males. Discussion The findings support the potential use of dental tissues to estimate sex of individuals from archaeological samples, while also indicating that individuals aged using current dental aging methods may be underaged or overaged due to sex differences in enamel thickness.",

author = "Christianne Fern{\'e}e and Sonia Zakrzewski and Brown, \{Kate Robson\}",

note = "Funding Information: British Association for Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology, Grant/Award Number: Research Grant; SWWDTP, Grant/Award Number: PhD Studentship Funding information Funding Information: This research formed part of C. Fern{\'e}e's PhD thesis which was funded by the SWWDTP‐AHRC and BABAO. The authors thank the National Museum of Wales for the access the Llandough material, University of Southampton Department of Archaeology for the access to the Great Chesterford material and University of Bristol Department of Anthropology and Archaeology for the access to the Taunton material. The authors acknowledge the μ‐VIS Centre at the University of Southampton, the National Composites Centre (NCC) and the Sumitomo Laboratory, Swansea for provision of their respective tomographic imaging facilities. Funding Information: This research formed part of C. Fern?e's PhD thesis which was funded by the SWWDTP-AHRC and BABAO. The authors thank the National Museum of Wales for the access the Llandough material, University of Southampton Department of Archaeology for the access to the Great Chesterford material and University of Bristol Department of Anthropology and Archaeology for the access to the Taunton material. The authors acknowledge the ?-VIS Centre at the University of Southampton, the National Composites Centre (NCC) and the Sumitomo Laboratory, Swansea for provision of their respective tomographic imaging facilities. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.",

year = "2021",

month = may,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1002/ajpa.24174",

language = "English",

volume = "175",

pages = "106--127",

journal = "American Journal of Physical Anthropology",

issn = "0002-9483",

publisher = "John Wiley and Sons Inc",

number = "1",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Dimorphism in dental tissues

T2 - Sex differences in archaeological individuals for multiple tooth types

AU - Fernée, Christianne

AU - Zakrzewski, Sonia

AU - Brown, Kate Robson

N1 - Funding Information: British Association for Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology, Grant/Award Number: Research Grant; SWWDTP, Grant/Award Number: PhD Studentship Funding information Funding Information: This research formed part of C. Fernée's PhD thesis which was funded by the SWWDTP‐AHRC and BABAO. The authors thank the National Museum of Wales for the access the Llandough material, University of Southampton Department of Archaeology for the access to the Great Chesterford material and University of Bristol Department of Anthropology and Archaeology for the access to the Taunton material. The authors acknowledge the μ‐VIS Centre at the University of Southampton, the National Composites Centre (NCC) and the Sumitomo Laboratory, Swansea for provision of their respective tomographic imaging facilities. Funding Information: This research formed part of C. Fern?e's PhD thesis which was funded by the SWWDTP-AHRC and BABAO. The authors thank the National Museum of Wales for the access the Llandough material, University of Southampton Department of Archaeology for the access to the Great Chesterford material and University of Bristol Department of Anthropology and Archaeology for the access to the Taunton material. The authors acknowledge the ?-VIS Centre at the University of Southampton, the National Composites Centre (NCC) and the Sumitomo Laboratory, Swansea for provision of their respective tomographic imaging facilities. Publisher Copyright: © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

PY - 2021/5/1

Y1 - 2021/5/1

N2 - Objectives Dimorphism in the dentition has been observed in human populations worldwide. However, research has largely focused on traditional linear crown measurements. As imaging systems, such as micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), become increasingly more accessible, new dental measurements such as dental tissue size and proportions can be obtained. This research investigates the variation of dental tissues and proportions by sex in archaeological samples. Materials and Methods Upper and lower first incisor to second premolar tooth rows were obtained from 30 individuals (n = 300), from 3 archaeological samples. The teeth were micro-CT scanned and surface area and volumetric measurements were obtained from the surface meshes extracted. Dental wear was also recorded and differences between sexes determined. Results Enamel and crown measurements were found to be larger in females. Conversely, dentine and root measurements were larger in males. Discussion The findings support the potential use of dental tissues to estimate sex of individuals from archaeological samples, while also indicating that individuals aged using current dental aging methods may be underaged or overaged due to sex differences in enamel thickness.

AB - Objectives Dimorphism in the dentition has been observed in human populations worldwide. However, research has largely focused on traditional linear crown measurements. As imaging systems, such as micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), become increasingly more accessible, new dental measurements such as dental tissue size and proportions can be obtained. This research investigates the variation of dental tissues and proportions by sex in archaeological samples. Materials and Methods Upper and lower first incisor to second premolar tooth rows were obtained from 30 individuals (n = 300), from 3 archaeological samples. The teeth were micro-CT scanned and surface area and volumetric measurements were obtained from the surface meshes extracted. Dental wear was also recorded and differences between sexes determined. Results Enamel and crown measurements were found to be larger in females. Conversely, dentine and root measurements were larger in males. Discussion The findings support the potential use of dental tissues to estimate sex of individuals from archaeological samples, while also indicating that individuals aged using current dental aging methods may be underaged or overaged due to sex differences in enamel thickness.

UR - https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.24174

U2 - 10.1002/ajpa.24174

DO - 10.1002/ajpa.24174

M3 - Article (Academic Journal)

C2 - 33247477

SN - 0002-9483

VL - 175

SP - 106

EP - 127

JO - American Journal of Physical Anthropology

JF - American Journal of Physical Anthropology

IS - 1

ER -

Dimorphism in dental tissues: Sex differences in archaeological individuals for multiple tooth types

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