title: Correlations of dimensional and discrete dental traits in the post-canine and anterior dental segments.
abstract: The present study explores the associations of metric and discrete variation in human canines and first molars. Emphasis is placed on the relation between tooth size and the various grades of expression of the canine distal accessory ridge (CDAR) and Carabelli's trait, in order to test the hypothesis that metric and non-metric variation in the posterior teeth are less well integrated than in the anterior teeth. Metric and discrete dental data were gathered from 120 Lengua Indians (52 male, 68 female), 100 Negroes (52 male, 48 female) and 100 caucasoids (50 male, 50 female). Our results indicate that first maxillary molar size and the Carabelli trait vary independently of one another. Similarly, variation in canine size and in the CDAR appears to be independently determined. Hence it is concluded that tooth size and morphology in the maxillary canines and molars are poorly integrated, irrespective of intra-arcadal position. Furthermore, sex dimorphism and interpopulation differences in the expressivity of Carabelli's trait and the CDAR appear to be unrelated to odontometric differences.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kieser
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Becker
mesh_terms: D044383:Black People; D003481:Cuspid / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American; D008297:Male; D008963:Molar / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D009811:Odontometry; D012737:Sex Factors; D044465:White People