On the non-existence of compensatory tooth size interaction in a contemporary human population.

Abstract

Compensatory tooth size interactions between early and later developing teeth within the same tooth class were empirically evaluated in a sample of 125 study casts of Caucasoid children. Mean buccolingual and mesiodistal diameters for first and second molars, pre-molars, and incisors were calculated, and those first developing teeth that were either larger of smaller than the mean were identified. Pearsonian correlation coefficients and chi-square tests revealed highly significant positive correlations between smaller of larger early developing teeth and their later developing neighbors. This total lack of compensatory tooth size interaction was also confirmed when outsized teeth (larger of smaller than one standard deviation from the mean) were used. Similar results were obtained when tooth size was corrected for arcade length, hence allowing for the rejection of Sofaer's model of compensatory tooth size interaction.