Multivariate analysis of nonmetric traits in permanent anterior teeth: A forensic overview

Abstract

Introduction: Dental morphology is a highly heritable characteristic, also stable with time and has a fairly high state of preservation. Nonmetric dental traits have a crucial role in ethnic classifications of a population which helps in forensic racial identification purposes. Aims and Objectives: The objective of the study is to determine the frequency and variability of possible nonmetric tooth traits using extracted permanent anterior teeth from Kerala population for discerning racial ethnicity. Materials and Methods: This qualitative, cross-sectional study was carried out using 1761 extracted intact permanent anterior teeth collected from different dental clinics situated all over Kerala. Results: The most common trait noted was shoveling in both incisors and canines with maximum expression in 11 (69.12%) followed by 21 (62.94%). Double shoveling and lingual tubercle prevalence in canines (12.64% and 10.18%) were more than incisors (6.09% and 7.55%). In canines, the expression percentage of palatal fossae, lingual fossae, and distal accessory ridge was 31.13, 18.49, and 10.56, respectively. Conclusion: The results showed a higher degree of shoveling trait in this population. This research suggested new elements of invaluable ethnographic tooth traits value to understand racial ethnicity of Kerala population.