Carabelli Trait Research Articles

Analysis of non-metric dental traits for ethnicity identification in a mixed population of Uttar Pradesh

BackgroundForensic odontology involves the identification of individuals through dental records, making it a crucial tool in legal investigations. Non-metric dental traits (NMDT), which are variations in dental morphology play a key role as these traits are inherited characteristics that can help establish biological relationships or ancestry. Thus, we aim to assess the frequency and variability of NMDT in the human dentition of four ethnically mixed populations in Uttar Pradesh. This study can aid in the future by maintaining records of ethnic groups and their variability, which can be crucial for disaster victim management and forensic odontology. MethodsThe study was conducted on a total of 100 patients coming to the OPD of Oral Medicine and Oral Pathology and Microbiology of King George's Medical University from January 2022 to July 2023. Impressions of both arches were made for participants using irreversible hydrocolloid (alginate), and casts were examined under a stereomicroscope to assess 15 different morphological characteristics. ResultsNMDTs such as winging, shoveling, double-shoveling interruption groove, canine mesial ridge, hypocone, metacone, carabelli's trait, peg-shaped incisors, peg-shaped molar, premolar lingual cusp variation, deflecting wrinkle, protostylid, metaconulid, entoconulid was evaluated. The NMDTS were evaluated in four different ethnics Nordics, Mediterranean, Oriental Mediterranean, and Protoaustraloid amongst which various traits showed a statistically significant variation among the population of Uttar Pradesh. ConclusionThe sample studied presented confirmed supernumerary traits like metacone, protostylid, carabellis trait, metaconulid, premolar lingual cusp variation, and deflecting wrinkle were seen highest in Nordic, Mediterranean, Oriental Mediterranean, and Protoaustraloid ethnicity have a significant association with the Uttar Pradesh population.

Evaluation of the Occlusal Contact between the Opposing Teeth and the Cusp of Carabelli in Maxillary Permanent First Molars in Patients Visiting Peshawar Dental College

Background: The Cusp of Carabelli is a small additional cusp which is situated on the mesiopalatal surface of first maxillary molars. This nonfunctional cusp comes in many forms including furrows, ridges or pits and is collectively known as the Carabelli trait
 Objective: To evaluate the frequency of the occlusal contacts between the accessory cusp of Carabelli and the opposing arch tooth among both genders in patients attending the out-patients department of Peshawar Dental Hospital, Peshawar
 Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 subjects visiting the OPD of Peshawar Dental Hospital from October 2022 to December 2022. The sample size was calculated using WHO formula N=p(100-p)z2/d2 (Http://www.fao.orgThe age group selected for the participants was from 13-30 years. Consecutive sampling technique was used.). Articulating paper was used to assess the occlusal contacts caused by the cusp of Carabelli. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Pearson’s chi square test was applied to analyze the data. P value of ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
 Results: The results of the current study showed that 10.7% of the participants experienced occlusal contacts caused by the presence of their accessory cusp with the opposing arch tooth with no statistically significant difference between genders.
 Conclusion: The cusp of Carabelli is the most prevailing variation found on the palatal aspect of mesiopalatal cusp of permanent maxillary first molars in a hospital-based inhabitants of Peshawar with rare occlusal contacts experienced by the patients.
 Key words: Cusp of Carabelli, Maxillary permanent first molars, Occlusal contact.

The presence/ absence of cusps of the Carabelli in patients presenting to the dental outdoor department in a teaching hospital in Multan, Pakistan.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of cusps of the carabelli in dental OPD patients. Study Design: Descriptive Cross Sectional study. Setting: Department of Dental Outdoor, Ibn-e-Sina Hospital Multan. Period: June 2021 to July 2021. Material & Methods: Consent was taken from the patients and from parents of the children under the age of 10 years. Data was collected on a predesigned proforma. All patients attending the outdoor department of Ibn-e-sihna hospital, Multan were included and were examined on the patient examination chair for the present and absence of cusps of carabelli. A total of 400 patients were included in study during this period that fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Results: A total of 400 patients were examined during this period and frequency of carabelli trait is 53.75%. Majority of study population with carabelli trait was females but the difference was not statistically significant with p value of 0.075. Most of the patients have bilateral presence of cusp of carabelli and in unilateral cases, majority were on right side but the difference was not significant (P-Value 0.085). Conclusion: So it can be concluded from the study of the carabelli trait common in our population and also that it has regional variation in its prevalence. It is usually bilateral and more common in men and mostly in the form of pit.

Genetic and Morphological Variation in Hypodontia of Maxillary Lateral Incisors.

(1) Background: Hypodontia has a multifactorial aetiology, in which genetic factors are a major component. Associated with this congenital absence, the formed teeth may show differences in size and shape, which may vary with the specific genetic variants and with the location of the missing teeth. The aims of the present study were to investigate a specific variant of MSX1, derive morphometric tooth measurements in a sample of patients with isolated maxillary lateral incisor agenesis and matched controls, and model the findings. (2) Methods: Genotyping of the MSX1 rs8670 genetic variant and morphometric measurements with a 2D image analysis method were performed for 26 hypodontia patients and 26 matched controls. (3) Results: The risk of upper lateral incisor agenesis was 6.9 times higher when the T allele was present. The morphometric parameters showed significant differences between hypodontia patients and controls and between the unilateral and bilateral agenesis cases. The most affected crown dimension in the hypodontia patients was the bucco-lingual dimension. In crown shape there was significant variation the Carabelli trait in upper first molars. (4) Conclusions: The MSX1 rs8670 variant was associated with variations in morphological outcomes. The new findings for compensatory interactions between the maxillary incisors indicate that epigenetic and environmental factors interact with this genetic variant. A single-level directional complex interactive network model incorporates the variations seen in this study.

An initial investigation of dental morphology variation among three southern Naga ethnic groups of Northeast India.

This study examines dental morphology trait prevalence among three southern Naga groups and compares them to 10 ethnic groups from other regions of South Asia to accomplish two objectives: assess the biological relationship of these Tibeto-Burman-speakers to speakers of non-Tibeto-Burman languages in other South Asian regions, and determine which traits distinguish northeast Indians from other South Asians. Dental morphology traits were scored with the Arizona State University Dental Anthropology System. Tooth-trait combinations were evaluated for significant inter-trait correlation and intra-trait correspondence within dental fields. Comparisons were based on simple trait prevalence and with Smith's MMD. Affinities based on the former were accomplished with correspondence analysis and principal components analysis. Affinities based on the latter were undertaken with neighbor-joining cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling. After elimination due to inter-trait correlations and uniform prevalence, biodistances based on the remaining 17 tooth-trait combinations identify significant differences between northeast Indians and other South Asian ethnic groups due to high frequencies of shoveling on the maxillary incisors and Cusp 6 on the mandibular molars coupled with low frequencies of Carabelli's trait and Cusp 5 on UM1 and UM2, respectively. Patterns of biodistances obtained from dental morphology are consilient with those obtained from DNA indicating statistically significant differences between northeast Indians from members of ethnic groups of other regions of South Asia. Researchers should explore the sex-specific patterns. Biodistances should not be limited to "key" teeth within dental fields, for in almost every case traits present on mesial and distal teeth yield non-redundant information.

Tooth Morphometry and Pattern of Palatal Rugae Among Monozygotic Twins in Malaysia

Introduction: Monozygotic (MZ) twins share the same DNA, placenta, amniotic fluid, and physical features. Genetic factors play a prominent role compared to environmental factors in one’s physical appearance, including dental morphology. Here we studied variation in MZ twin’s tooth morphometry and palatal rugae pattern. Materials and methods: Variation between twins can be a valuable tool in forensics to identify individuals. Ten pairs of MZ twins were selected for this research. The maximum coronal mesiodistal and buccopalatal dimension of the maxillary teeth, excluding the second and third molars, were measured in triplicate using calipers. Palatal rugae patterns of the samples were cast, analyzed, and recorded based on shape and unification. Results: Our results showed a significant tooth dimension correlation between MZ twins. Maxillary central incisors had the least genetic variability, but the Carabelli trait, skeletal pattern, occlusion, and occlusal features all exhibited a greater correlation in MZ twins. Our findings provide compelling evidence for mirroring of dental features and palatal rugae patterns in MZ twins. This study is the first of its kind reported in Malaysia. Conclusion: Marked similarities in tooth morphometry and other dental physical features were observed between twins, which can be a useful tool in forensics for the identification of individuals.

A functional analysis of Carabelli trait in Australian aboriginal dentition

Carabelli is a nonmetric dental trait variably expressed as a small pit to a prominent cusp in the maxillary molars of modern humans. Investigations on the occurrence and expression rates of this trait have been conducted extensively, tracing its origin to genetic sources. However, there remains a lack of understanding about its potential role in chewing. In this study, we examine molar macrowear with the aim of reconstructing Carabelli trait occlusal dynamics occurring during chewing. We have examined 96 deciduous and permanent maxillary molars of children and young adults from Yuendumu, an Australian Aboriginal population that was at an early stage of transition from a nomadic and hunter-gatherer way of life to a more settled existence. We apply a well-established method, called Occlusal Fingerprint Analysis, which is a digital approach for analyzing dental macrowear allowing the reconstruction of jaw movements required to produce wear pattern specific to each tooth. Carabelli trait slightly enlarges the surface functional area, especially in those molars where this feature is expressed in its cuspal form and it is closer to the occlusal plane. Moreover, the highly steep contact planes would also indicate that Carabelli wear areas contribute to increasing the shearing abilities of the occluded teeth, which are particularly important when processing fibrous and tough foods. The macrowear analysis suggests that Carabelli trait in the Aboriginal people from Yuendumu slightly enhanced occlusion and probably played some functional role during mastication. Future biomechanical and microwear analyses could provide additional information on the mechanical adaptation of Carabelli trait in modern human dentition.

The functional role of the Carabelli trait in early and late hominins

The Carabelli trait is a dental feature that forms along the lingual margin of the protocone of deciduous and permanent maxillary molars. It is variably expressed, ranging from a small pit or furrow to a large cusp, and its development seems to be associated with crown size and molar cusp spatial configuration. The degree of expression of the Carabelli trait differs systematically between hominin taxa, and for this reason, it has been used extensively in the reconstruction of their phylogeny. However, the functional implications of having a large Carabelli trait remain unclear. In this study, we analyze the macrowear pattern of maxillary molars of early and late hominins using the occlusal fingerprint analysis method, an approach based on digital models of teeth that helps in reconstructing occlusal dynamics occurring during mastication. Tooth crowns with a small Carabelli cusp generally exhibit larger wear contact areas that extended cervically, while two additional new occlusal contact areas are common in teeth characterized by a large Carabelli cusp. These wear areas are created at the beginning of the chewing cycle, when occluding with the slopes of the lingual groove of the lower molars, between the metaconid and entoconid cusps. Advancing tooth wear leads to a slight enlargement of Carabelli occlusal contacts increasing their functional area. A steep inclination could be mechanically important in food reduction and in balancing the functional load distribution during mastication contacts. Steep wear areas are particularly developed in primates that process foods characterized by tough and fibrous textural properties. Future biomechanical and microwear texture analyses could provide additional information on the mechanical adaptation of this dental trait.

The Eskimo-Aleut Dentition: Crown and Root Morphology.

Objective of workThis paper provides an overview of crown and root morphology in Eskimo-Aleut populations of the American Arctic. For context, Eskimo-Aleut dental variation is compared to closely related American Indians and distantly related Europeans.Material and methodsThe characterization of dental trait frequency variation is based on observations made on approximately 10,000 dentitions scored by the late Christy G. Turner II and the author. Sixteen crown and five root traits were scored following the conventions outlined in the Arizona State University Dental Anthropology System.ResultsOf the 21 dental traits considered, only three showed slight differences among Eskimo-Aleuts, American Indians, and Europeans (UM1 cusp 5, LM2 groove pattern, LM2 root number). For the remaining traits, there was typically a dramatic contrast between the two New World populations and Europeans. While generally similar, Eskimo-Aleuts and American Indians showed differences in UI1 winging, shoveling, and double shoveling, UM1 Carabelli trait, 2-cusped UM2, 3-rooted UM2, and especially 3-rooted LM1.ConclusionThe differences between the three groups are likely a product of genetic drift and founder effect although recent work on the EDAR V370A allele suggests some dental variables like shoveling and lower molar cusp number may indirectly reflect natural selection operating on other variables influenced by this allele.Key wordsTooth Crown; Tooth Root; Alaska Natives; North American Indians; European Continental Ancestry Group

Carabelli's trait: Frequency and expression in primary and permanent dentition

Aim: Carabelli's trait (CT) is a cusp or groove seen on the palatal surface of the mesiopalatal cusp of primary maxillary second molars and permanent maxillary first molars. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency and degree of expression of CT in the primary maxillary second molars and permanent first molars in Bengali population. Methods: In this descriptive study, 377 children (193 males and 184 females) of both sexes were examined clinically for the presence of CT. Intraoral examinations were carried out to determine the incidence and degree of expression of a CT for the primary maxillary second molars and permanent first molars. When present, CT was recorded as cusp or pit. Results: The frequency of CT was 45.6% with no significant sex difference (P > 0.05). The prevalence of the trait was more in primary maxillary second molars (38.7%) than in permanent first molars (23.1%). Bilateralism of CT was observed in 79.1% of the cases. Negative expression or pit form of the trait was more common than cuspal configuration. There was a positive association (P = 0.00) between the occurrence of CT in the primary second molars and permanent first molars. Conclusion: The prevalence of CT was more in primary maxillary second molars than in permanent maxillary first molars. The presence of CT in the primary maxillary second molars was positively associated with CT in the maxillary permanent first molars.

Relationship of Carabelli's Trait Between the Upper Second Deciduous and First Permanent Molars

Background: Carabelli’s trait is an inner knob near the second molar and the first permanent molar and has been used as an important ethnic index for decades. It can be used to show great ethnic differences in dentistry. Objectives: The aim of this longitudinal study was to determine: (1) the frequencies of Carabelli trait and (2) the relationship of Carabelli’s trait between the deciduous and permanent teeth. Method: The sample consisted of 64 pairs of dental casts (32 boys, 32 girls, aged 3–5 and 12–14) on Vietnamese people. Results: The frequencies of pits and grooves were high (deciduous teeth: 51.56%, permanent teeth: 39.06%). By contrast, the frequencies of pronounced tubercular forms were low (25% in both dentitions). The correlation coefficient between the deciduous and permanent teeth was 0.65 (p

Tooth Crown Morphology in Turner and Klinefelter Syndrome Individuals from a Croatian Sample.

ObjectiveTurner syndrome (TS) and Klinefelter syndrome (KS) represent the two most common X chromosome aneuploidies, each associated with systemic disruptions to growth and development. Effects of these conditions on tooth crown morphology are explored in a sample of Croatian individuals.Materials and MethodsThe sample included 57 TS, 37 KS and 88 control individuals. Dental crown morphology was scored on dental casts according to the Turner-Scott Dental Anthropology System.ResultsIncisor shoveling and the hypocone were significantly different between TS individuals and both control and KS individuals. Individuals with TS exhibit lower grades of expression than either group. Furthermore, the number of lingual cusps on the mandibular premolars, the hypoconulid on the mandibular second molar, and cusp 7 on the mandibular first molar were significantly different, though pair-wise comparisons did not elucidate these differences. Tuberculum dentale, distal accessory ridge, and Carabelli’s trait were expressed similarly to the control. KS individuals were not significantly different from control individuals for any trait, though this may be related to sample size.ConclusionsPrevious studies suggest the loss of an X chromosome has a reducing effect on dental crown morphology, which is confirmed in this research. TS individuals exhibit generally simpler dental morphology compared to the control sample, though some traits are expressed comparably to the control sample. The effects of KS are less clear. Though previous studies suggest that the presence of an extra X chromosome increases dental crown dimensions, there was no notable effect on crown morphology in this study.

The Frequency of The Carabelli Trait in Selected Bangladeshi Population

Background: The Carabelli cusps are a tubercle or a additional cusp or a ridge on the palatal surface of the mesiopalatal cusps of maxillary first molars and maxillary seconds deciduous molars.
 Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of cusps of carabelli in permanent first maxillary molars in selected Bangladeshi population.
 Materials and Methods: This observational study was carried out at MH Samorita Medical College and Dental unit from January 2017 to May 2018 with 104 subjects in young adult individuals.
 Results: Out of 104 individual the tubercle was present in 55 with a percentage of 52.88%. Among this the total number of male with tubercle 27(49.09%) and female was 28(50.51%).
 Conclusion: The Carabellis tubercle is mainly used for differentiation between different populations. Frequency of occurrence of Carabelli trait is moderate among Bangladeshi people.
 KYAMC Journal Vol. 9, No.-4, January 2019, Page 163-165

Frequency and variability of five non metric dental crown traits in the permanent maxillary dentitions of a racially mixed population from Bengaluru, Karnataka.

Introduction:Evaluation of Tooth Crown non metric traits benefits to assess the biological distance between populations. It is well known that these traits are characterised by a high inter-population differentiation, low sexual dimorphism, and their recording is loaded by relatively small intra and inter observer error. The dental morphological traits are successfully used in the description and explanation of the microevolutionary and ethnogenetic processes. This paper presents the results of the permanent maxillary dentition tooth crown traits differentiation of human populations from Bengaluru.Materials and Methods:The comparative analysis was carried out on the basis of 4 groups for 5 Tooth Crown non metric traits in maxillary permanent dentition using Arizona State University Dental Anthropology System for morphological scoring system of each trait and each score was charted on Osteoware Dental Morphology software.Results:Study analysed 400 dental casts from 4 different ethnic groups. Traits Winging, shovelling, lingual tubercle showed highest expression in Iranians while Cusp of Carabelli's trait expression showed 87% of prevalence in the surveyed group but the Hypocone trait showed the highest expression in Muslims.Conclusion:Traits of the human dentition can be a valuable diagnostic tool for anthropological studies in classifying and characterizing different ethnic groups. According to the results obtained from this study, it can be said that the groups Hindus, Muslims and Christians (Indians) belong to Sundonts, while Iranians fall under sinodonts population group.

Influence of Inbreeding on the Carabelli Trait in a Human Isolate

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of increased homozygosity due to inbreeding on the phenotypic distribution of the Carabelli trait. The sample consisted of 224 dental casts representing 20.2% of the total children aged 7 to 14 years from the endogamous, inbred population of the Island of Hvar, Croatia. Inbreeding analysis compared the children with different rates of grandparental endogamy relative to the expression of Carabelli’s trait. The design evaluated the effect of inbreeding on Carabelli trait on the maxillary permanent first molar within a natural setting of reduced variability of environmental factors.Very high frequency of the Carabelli trait was observed for the permanent first molar on both sides of the arcade (84% and 86% on left and right sides). Significant difference among the groups who have different degrees of inbreeding was found when Carabelli trait was divided into absent, negative features, and a positive cusp using Dahlberg’s grading system.It seems that Carabelli’s trait is strongly genetically determined, and present findings imply it may be controlled byrecessive alleles. If heterogeneous polygenic developmental modules are responsible for the diversity of Carabelli’s trait, they stay relatively stable after initiation of the developmental process when it appears that other environmental factors have no measurable effect.

Carabelli Trait in Australian Twins: Reliability and Validity of Different Scoring Systems

We assessed the intra- and inter-observer reliability of two methods of scoring or categorizing Carabelli trait in both primary and permanent dentitions (Hanihara, 1961; Dahlberg, 1963). By using dental casts obtained from twins, we also compared the expression of Carabelli trait within and between monozygotic (MZ) co-twins to clarify the ontogenetic processes leading to different forms of trait expression. While intra-observer concordance rates were generally good (70 - 90%), inter-observer concordance rates were poor (35 - 60%). This indicates that considerable caution is needed when comparing data for Carabelli trait derived from different samples by different researchers. By comparing categories or scores for Carabelli trait in both dentitions of MZ co-twins, we found inter-relationships between groove and cuspal forms of the feature. Although the Arizona State University system developed by Turner is commonly used nowadays to score the Carabelli trait, we would encourage researchers interested in clarifying genetic influences and ontogenetic processes in both dentitions to refer to the often over-looked plaque of Hanihara and also Dahlberg’s plaque P12B. This should improve the reliability and validity of data obtained by helping to clarify the inter-relationships between the different phenotypic expressions of Carabelli trait.

The cusp of Carabelli: Frequency, distribution and type in the Bengaluru population.

Aims:Detailed description and study of teeth traits could provide valuable information regarding phylogeny of man and distinctions between races and subraces. But morphological variations of the human dentition have not been utilized to their full potential by anthropologists concerned with patterns of human biological variation in Indian population. The aim of the present study is to detect the frequency and degree of expression of Carabelli's trait in Bengaluru population, this helps to develop a probabilistic model to distinguish individuals from specific human populations, particularly for forensic purposes.Materials and Methods:A total number 400of age and sex matched individuals from four different ethnic groups – Hindu, Islam, Christian and Iranians were examined clinically and study casts were made. Permanent maxillary first molars were examined for the expression of Carabelli's trait, Dahlberg classification system was used to score the trait on the teeth. The scores were recorded on Osteoware Dental Morphology software. The cast were examined by 2 observers independently to eliminate intra observer variation in interpretation and mean of 2 was taken for analysis. The data so obtained was statistically analysed especially emphasizing on differences between above mentioned 4 ethnic groups.Results:Cusp of Carabelli was present in 87% of the study population in maxillary first permanent molar. Type 3 was the most frequently expressed and Type 6 was the least frequently expressed and both type being expressed in Islamic groups. The expression of trait was bilateral in 90% of the surveyed groups.Conclusions:It was concluded that the prevalence of cusp of Carabelli in the small population from Bengaluru considered in the present study was found to possess a high degree of Carabelli trait expression.

Prevalence and Distribution of Carabelli Cusp in Maxillary Molars in Deciduous and Permanent Dentition and Its Relation to Tooth Size in a Group of Iranian Adult and Pediatric Dental Patients

Background: Carabelli cusp is a dental morphologic anomaly arising on the palatal side of the mesiopalatal cusp of maxillary first or second molars. It is believed that this cusp is seen in people with larger teeth. Since it has different prevalence among populations, it can be used in forensic dentistry. As well, dentists should be aware of common dental anomalies that might impact dental treatments. In this study, the prevalence of Carabelli cusp and its relation to tooth size in permanent and deciduous dentitions in Iranian population was assessed. Methods: This analytic-descriptive study was performed on 129 (43 deciduous, 86 permanent) patients and their dental casts. First and second molars were observed for the presence of Carabelli cusp. Mesiodistal width of teeth was recorded by using a vernier calliper. The data were analyzed by the Independent t test, Chi-square and Mann Whitney statistical tests using SPSS 18. Results: Frequency of Carabelli trait were respectively 72% and 62% in deciduous and permanent dentitions. No significant difference was seen between males and females in this study in both studied dentitions (P>0.05). Dentitions with Carabelli cusp had larger mesiodistal width compared to other groups in both dentitions (P<0.001). Conclusion: Carabelli cusp in the studied Iranian population was higher compared to other Asian populations. In addition, its bilateral occurrence like a shallow groove in first maxillary molars was related to larger tooth size in both dentitions.

Dental nonmetric trait intraobserver precision: three observations of a large sample

The utility of nonmetric dental traits in population phenetic studies is well documented. However, consistency in scoring trait expression is a concern due to the subjectivity in scoring quasicontinuous variables with graded scales. The aims of this study are to 1) analyze intraobserver results from an independent scorer and 2) interpret the least precise results. Six hundred individuals (300 of each sex) were scored for 48 dental nonmetric traits using ASUDAS, in one preliminary (100 individuals) and two full observations. Intraobserver precision between scoring sessions yielded adequate results (85% to 100%), with two notable exceptions (UI2 tuberculum dentale and LC distal accessory ridge) and three somewhat problematic cases (UM2 hypocone, UM1 Carabelli's trait, and LM1 anterior fovea). Kendall's τ-b rank correlation coefficients are usually moderate to strong (> 0.3). The results are similar to previously published studies of observer error. Error rates are likely caused by inexperience in observable surface selection and trait/grade definition. ASUDAS requires restraint from scoring teeth that are too worn or modified by caries or chipping. A careful study of trait and grade definitions is strongly encouraged. The key element in achieving high precision rates is experience. Intraobserver (and, if needed, interobserver) error should always be calculated. Overall, ASUDAS is a reliable and useful method, especially if the author's recommendations are followed.

Nonmetric traits of permanent posterior teeth in Kerala population: A forensic overview.

Introduction:Dental morphology is a highly heritable characteristic which is stable with time and has a fairly high state of preservation. Nonmetric dental traits have crucial role in ethnic classifications of a population that helps in forensic racial identification purposes.Aims and Objectives:To determine the frequency and variability of possible nonmetric tooth traits using extracted permanent posterior teeth from Kerala population for discerning racial ethnicity.Materials and Methods:This qualitative, cross-sectional study was carried out using 1743 extracted intact permanent posterior teeth collected from different dental clinics situated all over Kerala.Results:The more common features on premolars were multiple lingual cusps (31.21%), distal accessary ridges (16.28%) and Tom's root (17.9%). In upper first molars, Carabelli trait expression was 17.78% and other common features included metaconulo, cusp 5 and enamel extensions.Conclusion:Posterior tooth traits had variable expression in the study population. Low prevalence rate of Carabelli trait in this study is characteristic of Asian population. This research explored new elements of invaluable tooth traits values to understand racial ethnicity of Kerala population.