Othodontic aspects of dental anthropology.

Abstract

Variation in the size, shape, number, arrangement, and wear pattern of the teeth of man has long been an area of great interest to physical anthropologists. In this paper some of the remarkable variations to be found in the human dentition are identified and translated in orthodontic terms. Teeth are by nature imperfect structures, often just as disfigured individually as the malocclusions they form collectively. It is important that the orthodontist cultivates an anthropologist's eye for tooth variations. With this sensitivity he shall surely enlarge his understanding of the limitations of orthodontic therapy and shall appreciate the valuable role of tooth altering procedures in achieving treatment success.