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The correlation of sexual dimorphism in tooth size and arch form
Nick B Haralabakis1, Iosif Sifakakis, Manolis Papagrigorakis
1Department of Orthodontics, University of Athens, Greece.
Aim:
To determine the sexual dimorphism in the sizes of the 6 anterior teeth in the maxilla and the mandible, as well as the sexual dimorphism in the maxillary and mandibular arch forms in Greek patients seeking orthodontic treatment. An attempt was made to establish a correlation between tooth size and arch form.
Method:
The sample consisted of 100 male and 100 female patients seeking orthodontic treatment, between the ages of 20 and 25 years, and with no history of prior orthodontic treatment. Mesiodistal measurements of the 6 anterior teeth, as well as sagittal and transverse measurements of the dental arches, were taken on both the maxillary and mandibular casts. The subjects of the sample were divided into 5 groups, according to certain arch form characteristics determined from these measurements.
Results:
The female subjects in this sample had both smaller teeth and smaller maxillary and mandibular arch dimensions. No significant differences in the distribution of the 5 forms according to gender were seen. When comparing the sum of the mesiodistal distances of the 6 anterior teeth to the arch form, the results do not offer a safe conclusion.
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