title: Morphometric variables of developing primary maxillary first molar crowns in humans.
abstract: The following morphometric variables were examined in 18 primary maxillary first molars at various stages of development, collected from archaeological excavation sites in Israel: perimeters and areas from the occlusal view; buccolingual and mesiodistal dimensions and intercusp distances; the angle between the line joining the distobuccal, mesiobuccal and lingual cusps; and the height of the mesiobuccal cusp. An image-analysing technique comprising a photographic camera, a monitor, a computer with appropriate software and a digital caliper was used. Significant correlations were demonstrated between most variables. Teeth were divided into two groups according to their stage of development: stage one included all teeth at an early stage of development in which mesiobuccal cusp height was less than 5 mm; stage two included all teeth in later stages of development where mesiobuccal cusp height was greater than 5 mm. All external variables showed an increase in size between the two stages (while, among the internal ones, only the angle between the cusps showed a very small increase). The small sample is a limitation but the results suggest the following: (1) growth of the primary maxillary molar crown occurs with 'bursts' of development ; and (2) a change in the shape of the crown occurs during its formation where the mesiobuccal cusp moves buccally and distally, and the lingual cusp moves mesially.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Hadassah Faculty of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Peretz
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nevis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007557:Israel; D008437:Maxilla; D008963:Molar / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development; D009811:Odontometry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010161:Paleodontology; D019228:Tooth Crown / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development