Work

Is there geometric morphometric evidence for the selection against impaction? A comparative cross-sectional study of specific tooth-agenesis patterns

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: Reductions in tooth number and facial prognathism may reflect shared genetic and evolutionary mechanisms but have been inconsistently reported by traditional cephalometric analyses. This study aimed to assess whether common patterns of dental agenesis are associated with craniofacial morphology using geometric morphometric methods. DESIGN: This retrospective comparative cross-sectional study included 538 patients aged 10-19 years from a French orthodontic population. Individuals with hypodontia (n = 269), restricted to third molars, maxillary lateral incisors, or second premolars, were matched by age and sex with controls without agenesis (n = 269). Craniofacial morphology was assessed on lateral cephalograms using 18 landmarks and 87 semilandmarks. Multiple linear regression and Procrustes MANOVA were applied to evaluate differences in size and shape, adjusting for sex and age. RESULTS: No significant association was found between agenesis status and craniofacial size in the overall configuration as well as in the cranial base, maxilla, and mandible. A significant sex effect was detected in the mandible, with smaller centroid size in males (p = 0.012). Multivariate regression on shape confirmed allometric effects across all configurations. Procrustes MANOVA detected a significant effect of sex on overall shape (p = 0.003), but neither age nor hypodontia reached significance. CONCLUSION: In this large geometric morphometric study, no generalized or localized alterations in craniofacial morphology were detected, even in third molar agenesis, suggesting that the anthropological significance of hypodontia should be regarded with caution.

Source: Archives of Oral Biology

DOI: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2025.106462

Authors: Sarah Boussali, Anaïs Cavaré

Institutions: Université de Bordeaux, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, De la Préhistoire à l'Actuel : Culture, Environnement et Anthropologie

Language: English

Topic: Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics

Subfield: Orthodontics

Field: Dentistry

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,760