Work

Dental traits: From anthropological foundations to clinical implications

Year: 2026

Type: review

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Dental traits are a fundamental concept in anthropological studies and hold substantial clinical relevance in dentistry disciplines. This review summarizes research progress on dental traits and discusses their clinical implications in various fields of dentistry, aiming to provide more scientific foundation for personalized dental diagnosis and treatment. DESIGN: A narrative literature search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Anthropology Plus databases (1914-June 2026), focusing on variations in metric and non-metric dental traits, populational specificity, sexual dimorphism, and their clinical implications in forensic anthropology, orthodontics, prosthodontics, and endodontics. RESULTS: Metric and non-metric dental traits exhibit population-specific and sexual dimorphism, which can not only be used for ancestry and sex determination in anthropology but also provide crucial guidance for orthodontic diagnosis, aesthetic restoration design, predicting complexity in endodontic and periodontal therapies, and enabling personalized dental treatment tailored to population- and sex-specific variations. CONCLUSIONS: Dental traits bridge anthropology and dentistry, but further research is required by greater interdisciplinary collaboration.

Source: Archives of Oral Biology

DOI: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2026.106678

Authors: Yukun Yang, Xue Yang, Xinyuan Zhang, Jianhua Hou

Institution: Jilin University

Language: English

Topic: Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies

Subfield: Archeology (arts and humanities)

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,760