Ancient anomalies: Twinned and supernumerary incisors in a medieval Nubian

Dental Anomalies in the Past: Fusion, Gemination, and Talon Cusp in Two Archeological Samples

BACKGROUND

Disruption in odontogenesis can influence the normal development of both deciduous and permanent dentition resulting in anomalies in morphology, number, and position of teeth. Although dental anomalies are frequently reported in clinical practice, their occurrence in past populations from archeological contexts is rarely acknowledged.

AIM

To describe two cases of dental anomalies on two non-adult individuals from Italian archeological sites.

DESIGN

Individual sex diagnosis was performed by analyzing amelogenin peptides from the dental enamel through liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Age-at-death estimation was based on stages of dental formation and eruption. Dental twinning and talon cusp were morphologically evaluated and classified following standardized scoring systems proposed by clinical literature.

RESULTS

The first individual, a 3-4-year-old female from the Imperial Roman necropolis of Isola Sacra, presents the fusion of the upper right deciduous central incisor with a supplementary tooth; the second individual, a 3-3.5-year-old male from a Late Antiquity catacomb, shows a case of bilateral gemination on the upper permanent central incisors with a co-occurrence of dental gemination and talon cusp on the right one.

CONCLUSIONS

The cases reported here (the two anomalies in the individuals presented) are useful into understanding these dental conditions within past/archaeological populations.

Double Teeth and Coexistent Anomalies: Examples From Continental Africa

OBJECTIVES

Whether gemination or fusion, double teeth are rare worldwide, including Africa based on few published data. New cases from the continent are tallied, and anomalies potentially associated with double teeth are identified. These findings should interest a range of dental researchers.

METHODS

The presence of double teeth was recorded in 97 modern and premodern North and sub-Saharan African samples (5631 inds.). They and coexistent anomalies are described relative to published examples. Prevalence was estimated as possible, using a Poisson model for 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

Three maxillary double teeth were identified: a primary left lateral incisor in a Nubian child (1938-1756 BC), permanent left central incisor in an adult Egyptian (3650-3500 BC), and permanent right central incisor in a modern (19th century) adult from Guinea. Each co-occurs, respectively, with a talon cusp, peg lateral incisor and, in the latter individual, second premolar crown variation with rotation, and third molar dens evaginatus. Double tooth prevalence is 0.048% (CI 0.001%-0.270%), with regional variation, in premodern, and 0.000% in modern North Africans. It is 0.000% for premodern and 0.048% for modern sub-Saharan Africans (0.008%-1.714%).

CONCLUSIONS

The double incisors are comparable to other global examples, indicative of common developmental processes during odontogenesis. Prevalence is lower than published modern rates, to suggest some exceptionality in Africans as reported earlier for other dental variants. Finally, though circumstantial, double teeth and accompanying anomalies may share an etiology. Continuing research overall, and in Africa specifically, will promote an improved understanding of double teeth formation and expression.