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Ritual tooth modification in Bali (Metatah): Implications for dental assessment.

A P Zikir¹, S Mânica²

¹Oral Biology Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Prof. Dr. Moestopo Beragama, Jakarta, Indonesia.

Morphologie : Bulletin De L'Association Des Anatomistes

|March 27, 2026

Summary

The Hindu-Balinese Metatah ritual involves intentional tooth filing, with 89.1% of participants undergoing the procedure. This practice offers valuable insights for human identification and profiling in forensic anthropology.

Keywords:

Dental modification Dental profiling Identification Indonesia Intentional alteration Metatah Ritual

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Area of Science:

Forensic Anthropology
Bioarchaeology
Cultural Anthropology

Background:

Intentional dental modifications aid in human identification and determining origins.
The Hindu-Balinese tradition includes a tooth-filing ceremony known as Metatah.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the prevalence of the Metatah ritual among Balinese individuals.
To assess the utility of Metatah dental modifications in human identification and profiling.

Main Methods:

An anonymous 11-question e-survey was distributed to Balinese individuals.
Quantitative analysis of survey responses was performed using Microsoft Excel.

Main Results:

89.1% of 55 participants reported undergoing the Metatah ritual.
Filing aimed to smooth incisal edges and reshape canines; common reasons included eliminating 'Sad Ripu' and rite of passage.
The ritual was often performed by traditional specialists ('sangging').

Conclusions:

Metatah results in distinctive dental modifications relevant for human identification and profiling.
Integrating knowledge of Metatah enhances accuracy in dental and anthropological assessments of anterior teeth.