Maxillary canine‐first premolar transposition in two Native American skeletal samples from New Mexico

Abstract

Tooth transposition is a rare anomaly in which the position of two adjacent teeth in the dental arcade is reversed. Maxillary canine and first premolar transposition (Mx.C.P1 transposition) is most commonly observed. Data from Native Americans samples are lacking. The purpose of this study was: 1) to document the occurrence of Mx.C.P1 transposition, and 2) to generate information on the prevalence of this transposition type among world populations. Eleven cases (M = 5, F = 4, ? = 2) of Mx.C.P1 transposition were identified in skeletal samples from Pecos Pueblo (n = 500) and Sambrito Village (n = 10), both in northern New Mexico. Nine cases were unilateral, 6 affecting the right side and 3 affecting the left side. The remaining 2 cases were bilateral. The prevalence rate of Mx.C.P1 transposition in African and Native American samples, including Pecos Pueblo (1.8%), is higher than in samples from Scotland, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, and India. Mx.C.P1 transposition frequencies vary between geographically distinct populations, although sample composition may be a factor contributing to sample variation.

Tooth transposition prevalence and type among sub‐Saharan Africans

“…The Santa Barbara Channel Island (Nelson, 1992;Sholts et al, 2010) and Pakistan features (Lukacs, 1998) correspond with modern tendencies, though the rest vary to some extent. In the New Mexico study, males (55.6%) and the right quadrant (66.7%) were more affected (Burnett & Weets, 2001), while the Sudanese individual was also male (Burnett, 1999). Accompanying crown rotation, reduced size, retained deciduous teeth, and agenesis occur as well, although less than modern cases (ie, personal observation, 1989;Burnett & Weets, 2001;Lukacs, 1998;Nelson, 1992;Sholts et al, 2010).…”

“…In the New Mexico study, males (55.6%) and the right quadrant (66.7%) were more affected (Burnett & Weets, 2001), while the Sudanese individual was also male (Burnett, 1999). Accompanying crown rotation, reduced size, retained deciduous teeth, and agenesis occur as well, although less than modern cases (ie, personal observation, 1989;Burnett & Weets, 2001;Lukacs, 1998;Nelson, 1992;Sholts et al, 2010). Of interest, not only is Mx.C.P1 the most common today but, based on this overview, it is the only type recorded in premodern samples.…”

“…A study of other Santa Barbara Channel Island samples found seven of 966 (0.73%), 5500 to 600 BC, with Mx.C.P1 (Sholts et al, ). Eleven of 510 crania (2.2%) from New Mexico, AD 1300 to 1846, display this transposition (Burnett & Weets, ). In the Old World, one of 20 (5.0%) from Sarai Khola (1000‐270 BC), and one of ca.…”

“…Tooth transposition is largely perceived to be a modern orthodontic issue (Babacan et al, ; Budai, Ficzere, Gabris, & Tarjan, ; Ely et al, ; Maia & Maia, ; Mattos et al, ; Peck et al, ; Peck & Peck, ; Plunket, Dysart, Kardos, & Herbison, ; Shapira & Kuftinec, , ; Tripathi et al, ; Watted et al, ; Yilmaz, Türkkahraman, & Sayın, ; among others). However, as the remaining five of 238 articles (2.1%) reveal, the anomaly has long affected humans, based on dental anthropological research in mostly premodern (archeological) samples from the New and Old Worlds (Burnett, ; Burnett & Weets, ; Lukacs, ; Nelson, ; Sholts, Clement, & Wärmländer, ).…”

Oral Health in Past Populations: Context, Concepts and Controversies

“…The high trait frequency among Santa Cruz Islanders has been interpreted to result from an inbreeding effect due to population isolation (Nelson 1992). Individual cases of canine-premolar transposition occur in Bronze Age and Iron Age samples from South Asia (Lukacs 1998) and the trait is present in low frequency (1.8 percent; 9 of 500) in the Pecos Pueblo sample from New Mexico (Burnett and Weets 2001).…”