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Visualising trends in dentition to lip mouth morphology using geometric morphometrics
Tobias M R Houlton1, Nicolene Jooste2, Maryna Steyn3
1Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification, School of Science and Engineering, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom.
Plos One
|September 2, 2022
Summary
Facial approximation and craniofacial superimposition benefit from understanding mouth morphology. This study reveals significant population, sex, and age variations in South African dentition-to-lip shape, providing crucial data for forensic and clinical applications.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Anthropology
- Craniofacial Morphology
- Geometric Morphometrics
Background:
- Facial approximation (FA) and craniofacial superimposition (CFS) rely on bony landmarks to predict soft tissue placement.
- Limited understanding exists regarding the spatial relationships between hard and soft tissues in the perioral region.
- Geometric morphometrics offers a robust method for analyzing complex shape variations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate size and shape variations in dentition-to-lip morphology using geometric morphometrics.
- To analyze population and sex-specific differences in South African individuals.
- To determine the influence of age on mouth morphology.
Main Methods:
- Digitization of 20 landmarks (12 dentition, 8 lips) from cone-beam CT scans of 147 individuals (20-75 years).
- Application of Principal Component Analysis and Canonical Variate Analysis to assess shape variation.
- Two-way ANOVA and regression analysis to evaluate population, sex, and age effects.
Main Results:
- Significant variations in mouth shape were found across populations and sexes (p < 0.0001).
- Black individuals exhibited thicker lips with closer oral fissure alignment to occlusion; White individuals showed distinct oral fissure positions relative to incisors.
- Age significantly impacted mouth shape, with ageing associated with reduced lip/teeth height and increased mouth width.
Conclusions:
- The study provides valuable metric guides for enhancing facial approximation and craniofacial superimposition standards.
- Detailed insights into South African perioral morphology contribute to forensic and clinical facial reconstruction.
- Understanding age-related changes in mouth shape is critical for accurate facial analysis across different age groups.
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