Morphologic characteristics of the Alaskan Eskimo dentition. I. Shovel‐shape of incisors

• Published in: American Journal of Physical Anthropology
• Main Authors: Bang, Gisle, Hasund, Asbjörn
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1971
• Subjects: eskimo*
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.1330350106; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fajpa.1330350106; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ajpa.1330350106

Abstract As part of a comprehensive dental study of coastal and inland Alaskan Eskimos, information regarding the frequency of the shovel‐shape trait in the maxillary incisors is presented. The findings are compared with the trait as found in other populations. Some degree of shovel‐shape was demonstrated on all upper incisors and the semi‐shovel and shovel grades were found most frequently. Marked shovel‐shape was present in only about 5% of the material. These findings are in accordance with similar investigations on Eskimos. No sex difference in the shovel‐shape trend was present. There was a general tendency toward a higher degree of shovel‐shape in the inland group; this difference may be due to more admixture with white people along the coast. Comparing male Alaskan Eskimos with Aleuts a statistically significant lower degree of shovel‐shape appeared in the central incisor in the former group. The same tendency was revealed for the lateral incisor. No difference between female Aleuts and Alaskan Eskimos could be demonstrated. Only one family studied showed a significant deviation from the others with a more marked shovel‐shape. The genetics of the shovel‐shape may be hard to reveal in a sample where the trait is so prevalent in the whole population as in the Alaskan Eskimos.