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Changes in the mandibular angle during adulthood in South Africans
Anna C Oettlé1, René Ehlers2, Maryna Steyn3,4
1Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. anna.oettle@up.ac.za.
Summary
Tooth loss, not aging, increases the mandibular angle. This change is more pronounced with uneven tooth loss, impacting mastication. Ancestry and sex influence this response.
Area of Science:
- Anthropology
- Biomechanics
- Dental Anatomy
Background:
- The mandibular angle reflects biomechanical forces.
- Aging and tooth loss are potential influences on mandibular morphology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure the mandibular angle.
- To assess its relationship with aging and tooth loss patterns.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 717 adult mandibles from the Pretoria Bone Collection.
- Categorization into dentition subgroups based on tooth loss.
- Measurement of mandibular angle using a mandibulometer.
- Statistical analysis including age regressions and mean comparisons.
Main Results:
- Aging alone did not significantly alter the mandibular angle.
- Limited tooth loss correlated with a smaller mandibular angle in females.
- Tooth loss generally increased the mandibular angle, especially with disrupted occlusion.
- Increased mandibular angle with tooth loss was more evident in females and individuals of European ancestry.
Conclusions:
- Tooth loss is the primary driver of mandibular angle increase, not aging.
- Masculinity and African ancestry offered protection against mandibular angle changes.
- Disrupted occlusion suggests inefficient mastication.
- Females with limited tooth loss showed an age-related decrease, possibly due to developmental changes.
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