The Phenetic Distances of Jordanian Arabs from Other Human Populations Suggest a Major Genetic Drift from the Caucasoid Race

The objectives were to determine the expression frequency and sexual dimorphism of 16 non-metric crown traits on the permanent dentitions of the living Jordanians, and to assess the biological affinity of this sample to 21 high-order groups based on these traits. 360 Jordanian school children (176 males, 184 females; mean ages 15.5, sd = 0.4 years) were studied in 2009. The traits were classified using the Arizona State University dental anthropology system, counted with the individual count method, and dichotomized according to Scott and Turner criteria for the purpose of group comparisons. Z-value test was used to assess sexual dimorphism in these traits. Smith’s Mean Measure of Divergence was used to measure all pairwise distance values among the groups. Sexual dimorphism was found in only three traits (i.e., Carabelli’s tubercle/cusp, metaconule and hypoconulid absence). This study revealed that the dental pattern of living Jordanians is sufficiently distinct from the Caucasoid pattern and all other known dental patterns to warrant a unique dental pattern for this population. Moreover, the relatively large distance values between the living Jordanians and all other world groups considered including the Western Eurasian groups suggest a major genetic drift for this population from the Caucasoid race.

Occurrence of diversity in dental pattern and their role in identification in Udaipur population: an orthopantomogram based study

Background: Dental comparison is based on unique characteristics of the teeth (shape and outline, restorations, supernumerary teeth, impacted, fractured teeth etc.). Being the hardest structure in human body, teeth represent an ideal means of identification in situations of advanced decomposition, fire and mass disaster. Orthopantomogram is a broadly applied standard method in today’s practical dentistry and provides a complete view of the teeth and both jaws in one image.AIM: The present study aimed to verify the diversity of dental patterns in Udaipur population based on specific patterns of missing, filled, unrestored (virgin) and impacted teeth using Orthopantomogram.Material and Methods: 300 Dental Orthopantomogram were randomly selected from Pacific Dental College & Hospital, Udaipur and observed for the occurrence of dental patterns. The frequency of occurrence of dental patterns and the diversity in dental patterns were calculated for full dentition, maxilla and mandible.Results: Occurrence of most common dental pattern was formed by 32 virgin teeth, 10.66%. the diversity of dental pattern for full dentition was 99.7%, maxilla was 99.5%, and mandible was 99.49%.Conclusion: The diversity derived from dental patterns is a potentially valuable tool with broad applicability for human identification inspite of the mentioned drawbacks.