Functional implications of primate enamel thickness

Molnár, S.; Gantt, David G.

doi:10.1002/ajpa.1330460310

Cited by 134 publications

(116 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Furthermore, considering that people have adopted a pattern of predominantly semisolid diet consistency since the 20 th century, significant loss of proximal enamel due to masticatory forces is seen more frequently in elderly patients. [18][19][20] Concerning sexual dimorphism, a study reported that mesiodistal crown measurements were larger for men, compared with the dimensions obtained for women. 21 Some authors assessed the mesiodistal and buccolingual crown dimensions in North Americans, Egyptians and Mexicans.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Crown dimensions and proximal enamel thickness of mandibular second bicuspids

et al. 2011

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To achieve proper recontouring of anterior and posterior teeth, to obtain optimal morphology during enamel stripping, it is important to be aware of dental anatomy. This study aimed at evaluating crown dimensions and proximal enamel thickness in a sample of 40 extracted sound, human, mandibular, second bicuspids (20 right and 20 left). Mesiodistal, cervico-occlusal and buccolingual crown dimensions were measured using a digital caliper, accurate to 0.01 mm. Teeth were embedded in acrylic resin and cut along their long axes through the proximal surfaces to obtain 0.7 mm-thick central sections. Enamel thickness on the cut sections was measured using a perfilometer. Comparative analyses were carried out using the Student's-t test (α = 5%). The mean mesiodistal crown widths for right and left teeth were 7.79 mm (± 0.47) and 7.70 mm (± 0.51), respectively. Mean cervico-occlusal heights ranged from 8.31 mm (± 0.75) on the right to 8.38 mm (± 0.85) on the left teeth. The mean values for the buccolingual dimension were 8.67 mm (± 0.70) on the right and 8.65 mm (± 0.54) on the left teeth. The mean enamel thickness on the mesial surfaces ranged from 1.35 mm (± 0.22) to 1.40 mm (± 0.17), on the left and right sides, respectively. On the distal surfaces, the corresponding values were 1.44 mm (± 0.21) and 1.46 mm (± 0.12). No significant differences were found between measurements for right and left teeth. However, enamel thickness was significantly greater on the distal surfaces, compared with the mesial surfaces.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Crown dimensions and proximal enamel thickness of mandibular second bicuspids

et al. 2011

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“…That this is indeed the case for primate molars is seen, for example, in the crown structure of species with comparatively enhanced molar wear, wherein the 'functional' side of the tooth exhibits not only thicker enamel but also a lower cervical position (or higher crown) (e.g. Molnar and Gantt, 1977;Shimizu, 2002), thereby providing relatively more tooth material available for wear in the 'functional' side of the molar. However, an additional interest of ours is to evaluate fossil specimens and species, with which, more often than not, neither whole crown distributions of enamel nor extensive series of measurements at precisely defined locations of the tooth are possible.…”

Section: Utility Of Linear Measures Of Enamel Thickness In Interspecimentioning

confidence: 94%

A micro-CT based study of linear enamel thickness in the mesial cusp section of human molars: reevaluation of methodology and assessment of within-tooth, serial, and individual variation

Suwa

Kono

2005

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Enamel thickness was investigated in the mesial cusp section of 167 unworn human molars by means of non-destructive micro-CT based methodology. Serial sections of the entire crown were taken at a voxel resolution of 28 microns, and the initial volume data set of each molar was standardized in orientation to obtain a vertical section that accurately contains the dentine tips of the two mesial cusps. Enamel thickness at the cusp tips, occlusal basin, and lateral crown face was measured in the mesial cusp section and in sections offset from that section by 0.6 mm. We found that thickness at the cusp tips may be overestimated in offset sections by up to about 1 mm, and those of the occlusal basin overestimated or underestimated by up to about 0.5 mm. We also found that maximum 'radial' thickness of the lateral crown face was least affected by section position, usually with discrepancies of less than about 0.1-0.2 mm. In all serial positions in both upper and lower molars, a 'functional' (lingual in uppers and buccal in lowers) to 'non-functional' side gradient in enamel thickness was observed in cusp tip, occlusal basin, and lateral crown face enamel, with the exception of the characteristically thin enamel at the protoconid and paracone cusp tips. Serial differences in thickness were seen between the thinner M1 and the two posterior molars in many but not all measures of thickness, the pattern of which appears to be influenced by the thin M1 mesiobuccal cusp enamel. Individual variation of maximum lateral thickness, the least variable measure of thickness, was found to be substantial (a 30-60% range) even with serial and buccolingual positions controlled. Correlation between whole crown average enamel thickness and maximum lateral thickness was high, indicating that the latter is a potentially useful predictor of overall enamel thickness of the molar crown. The present results indicate that interspecific comparisons of enamel thickness must be made with careful attention to positional placement of thickness measures, potential serial differences, and intraspecific variation.

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“…Physical cross-sections of molar teeth have been used to measure enamel thickness by a number of workers (e.g., Molnar and Gantt, 1977;Martin, 1985;Beynon and Wood, 1986;Grine and Martin, 1988;Macho and Berner, 1993;Dumont, 1995;Schwartz, 2000b;Grine, 2002Grine, , 2004Grine, , 2005Grine et al, 2005). Physical sections provide an accurate portrayal of enamel thickness in a particular plane of section, but problems with specimen orientation (i.e., section obliquity) may render some of these data less than ideal.…”

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confidence: 99%

Assessment of the accuracy of dental enamel thickness measurements using microfocal X‐ray computed tomography

2006

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Tooth enamel thickness has long been an important character in studies of primate and especially hominin phylogeny, taxonomy, and adaptation. Current methods for accurately assessing enamel thickness involve the physical sectioning of teeth, because measurements of enamel thickness using some radiographic techniques are unreliable. However, because destructive methods limit sample sizes and access to important fossil specimens, it is desirable that they be replaced with nondestructive techniques. Although microfocal X-ray computed tomography (mCT) has been used recently in studies of enamel thickness, the accuracy of this technique has yet to be established. The present research compares physical sections to computer-generated mCT sections of teeth from a variety of primate and nonprimate, recent and fossil taxa to examine whether enamel thickness, tooth size, and diagenetic remineralization (fossilization) impact the ability of mCT to measure enamel thickness accurately. Results indicate that recent teeth of varying size and thickness are clearly and accurately depicted in mCT scans, with measurements from nearly identical planes in physical and mCT sections differing by 3-5%. A fossil papionin molar (ca. 2 Myr) was also accurately measured using mCT scans, although thinner enamel in much older therapsid (ca. 263-241 Myr) teeth could not be distinguished from dentine. mCT is thus an accurate technique for measuring enamel thickness in recent taxa, although heavily mineralized teeth pose an obstacle to the ability of mCT to distinguish dental tissues. Moreover, absolutely thin enamel (less than ϳ 0.10 mm) is difficult to resolve adequately in raw mCT images based on pixel values alone. Therefore, caution must be exercised in the application of mCT to the study of fossilized teeth. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.Key words: mCT; microfocal X-ray computed tomography; enamel thickness; measurement accuracy; diagenesis; dental enamel; dentine Tooth enamel thickness has long been considered to be of importance in the interpretation of human evolution because of its purported taxonomic and phylogenetic value

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Functional implications of primate enamel thickness

Cited by 134 publications

References 13 publications

Crown dimensions and proximal enamel thickness of mandibular second bicuspids

Crown dimensions and proximal enamel thickness of mandibular second bicuspids

A micro-CT based study of linear enamel thickness in the mesial cusp section of human molars: reevaluation of methodology and assessment of within-tooth, serial, and individual variation

Assessment of the accuracy of dental enamel thickness measurements using microfocal X‐ray computed tomography

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