engleski

Tooth pulp dimensions and taurodontism in Krapina Neanderthals

Taurodontism (T) is an apicooclusal elongation of the pulp chamber. This condition is seen in some extent in recent populations (found in about 2.5% of adult Caucasians). Morphological features of taurodontism and their appearance in various types of chromosomal abnormalities and syndromes, show that genetic moments of heritage, human environmental and local disturbances may have an influence on growth and development of teeth. The genetics is likely to be polygenic (1, 2). Taurodontism is common feature in Neanderthals (2-6). The aim of this research was to establish the frequency of T in Krapina Neanderthals using an objective method and comparing the vertical dimension of the pulp cavity of Krapina and recent molars. The material consisted of periapical radiographs of 27 Neanderthals permanent lower molars (11 M1, 6 M2 and 10 M3). The control group consisted of orthopantomograms of 18 male and 18 female patients 15 to 33 yrs of age (12 M1, 12 M2 and 12 M3). The molars were traced from the radiographs and T was estimated according to the method proposed by Shifman and Chanannel (7). The correction was made for the longitudinal magnification on the orthopantomograms. Taurodontic index (TI - the ratio between the pulp chamber height and distance between the roof of the pulp chamber and the apex of the longest root, in percent) was used for comparison of the vertical dimensions of the pulp cavity. T was found to occur in 70.4% of the Neanderthal molars. The frequency of T increased from the first molar towards wisdom tooth (36.4% of M1, and all of M2 and M3), as well as the degree of T (hypotaurodonts: three M1 and one M2 ; mesotaurodonts: one M2 and one M3 ; hypertaurodonts: one M1, four M2 and nine M3). There were no taurodontic molars in the control group. The previously reported frequency of T for Croatian population was 1.22% teeth and 2.66% individuals (1). The Krapina M1, M2 and M3 had significantly greater TI than contemporary molars (44 compared to 9, p < 0.001 ; median values presented). It was significantly greater for M2 and M3 compared to M1 (62 and 64 compared to 19, p < 0.01 for all). In the control group TI was significantly greater for M3 compared to M1 and M2 (16 compared to 5 and 8, p < 0.01 for all). Although T occurs in contemporary populations as a frequent trait (2) its frequency is much more less exhibited than in Neanderthal sample because the internal morphology of the molar teeth of those two samples significantly differs. These facts might be an useful for solving the cause of this feature. References: 1)KAIĆ Z, BRKIĆ H, KEROS J. Taurodontism and sex differences. Period biol 1994 ; 96: 109-10. 2)JASPERS MT., WITKOP CJ Jr., Taurodontism, an isolated trait associated with syndromes and X-chromosomal aneuploidy, Am J Hum Genet 1980, 32 ; 396-413. 3)VLČEK E. Neandertaler der Tschechoslowakei. Prag: Akademia, 1969 ; 92-7. 4)KALLAY J. A new classification of the taurodont teeth of the Krapina neanderthal man. Bull scient Yougosl 1970 ; A 15(1-2): 2-4. 5)TRINKHAUS E. The Shanidar Neandertals. New York: Academic Press, 1983: 175-7. 6)STRINGER CB. The hominid finds. In: Green HS. Pontewydd Cave: A lower paleolithic hominid site in Wales, the first report. Cardiff: National Museum of Wales Quarternary Studies Monographs, No. 1, 1984. 7)SHIFMAN A, CHANANNEL I. Prevalence of taurodontism found in radiographic dental examination of 1200 young adult Israeli patients. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 1978 ; 6: 200-3.

taurodontism; Neanderthals; mandibular molars

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