Crown heights in the permanent teeth of 47,XYY males

Abstract

Objective: The results in human sex chromosome aneuploidies had shown that the extra Y chromosome increases permanent and deciduous tooth crown sizes in the mesiodistal and labiolingual directions. The hypothesis of the study was that the additional Y chromosome increases the permanent tooth crown growth in a vertical dimension. We also aimed to observe possible sex difference in the permanent tooth crown height.

Material and methods: Data on 15 47,XYY males or males with an extra Y chromosome, nine male relatives (five brothers and four fathers) and 45 male and 48 female population controls had been gathered previously for Professor Lassi Alvesalo’s KVANTTI Research Project. The measurements from panoramic radiographs were performed of all the applicable teeth, except the third molars on both sides of the jaws with a sliding digital calliper.

Results: All the mean tooth crown heights in the 47,XYY males were larger than in the male population controls and the differences were statistically significant in six teeth in the maxilla and 10 teeth in the mandible. Apart from few teeth, the crown heights in the 47,XYY males were larger than in their male relatives, but the difference between these groups was significant only in one tooth. The differences between sexes were statistically significant in eight teeth in the maxilla.

Conclusions: Based on previous investigations and this work, it is evident that the impact of the extra Y chromosome during tooth crown development is holistic, increasing permanent tooth sizes in three dimensions in a balanced manner.

Keywords:

• Dentition
• humans
• male
• odontogenesis
• Y chromosome

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Professor Pertti Pirttiniemi for general support during this work. The KVANTTI dental research project has been supported by the Emil Aaltonen Foundation, the University of Turku Foundation, the Academy of Finland, the Finnish Dental Society Apollonia and the Tyyne Tani Foundation (University of Oulu). Professor Erkki Tammisalo contributed to the performing of the radiographic examinations. The research reported here complies with the current law in Finland. The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Funding

The KVANTTI dental research project has been supported by the Emil Aaltonen Foundation, the University of Turku Foundation, the Academy of Finland, the Finnish Dental Society Apollonia and the Tyyne Tani Foundation (University of Oulu).