Dental Anthropology

Fluctuating Asymmetry in Root Number and Morphology of Permanent Premolars and Molars—Case Reports

Anand Sherwood and Govinda Reddy

  Dental Anthropology, 24 (1): 16-24, 2011. 

Aim of this article is to report cases with fluctuating asymmetry in root morphology and root number in permanent premolars. Fluctuating asymmetry is a left-right asymmetry of a paired structure that is usually symmetrical. Teeth in corresponding quadrants of the upper and lower jaws are normally symmetrical structures that exhibit mirror imagery. Fluctuating asymmetry does occur at varying levels for all root traits. Fluctuating asymmetry for root morphology and number has been poorly studied. In this article, cases with fluctuating asymmetry in root number and morphology of permanent premolars and molars are reported. Key points are: (1) Fluctuating asymmetry seems to be occurring in Tamil speaking population of Madurai South India more frequently than reported for Caucasian populations. (2) More detailed study of variation in root morphology with greater emphasis on fluctuating asymmetry for root morphology is warranted. 3) Fluctuating asymmetry is of importance to clinical dentists, dental morphologists, and dental anthropologists.

The present cases highlight the importance of the clinician and researcher to understand this phenotypic variation. A total of 21 cases are described exhibiting macroscopic fluctuating asymmetry in root number and morphology of permanent premolars and molars. This report describes four mandibular second premolars with extra roots, seven mandibular first molars with extra roots, four mandibular second molars with C-shaped roots, two mandibular second molars with extra roots, three mandibular third molars with extra roots, and one maxillary second molar with extra root configurations.

From the case reports presented here it is seen that for the Tamil speaking population group in Madurai, South India, fluctuating asymmetry is occurring for various types of root aberrations in permanent premolars and molars.

Fluctuating asymmetry in root aberrations will be of importance to clinical dentists, dental anthropologists and dental morphologists.

A more detailed study on the incidence of root aberrations in permanent premolars and molars of local population group is necessary with greater emphasis on occurrence of fluctuating asymmetry for root aberrations.