The Dentition as a Criterion of Race with Special Reference to the Aleut

THE dentition offers a large number of characteristics in the form, size, cusps numbers and figure patterns of the teeth themselves, in pigmentation of gingiva, and hyperostosis of the jaws.1 These variables depend in their ultimate form or expression largely on a particular assortment of genes. There-fore, we may expect group differences in the dentition of man and should deter-mine the existence of certain combinations of specific characteristics in different populations. These criteria can then be applied to identification not only of the living, but even of skeletal remains, since teeth may be the only traces found and generally are well preserved. Consequently, present and past populations can be included in a single investigation. Time required for the dental study in the field is relatively short. Impres-sions and casts are obtained rather simply and the analysis can be postponed to the laboratory. Here measurements and observations on the multitude of morphological features are made, preferably with the assistance of a co-observer. Gingival pigmentation and palpation of the mandibular torus have to b