Indian Teeth

[Cindy]

When I was a child a dentist told me that I had teeth like the Indians had (American Indians). They were two extra teeth that were small and pointed. They were located on both sides of my four front teeth (upper). The dentist told me what they were called but I don’t remember. Does anyone have any information about these “Indian teeth”?

[whitkeen]

Canines. Eveybody has them, although some are more pointy than others. I don't know if Native Americans have extra canines, but even ancestral hominids and other great apes have a set of canines in the same place, only larger. Not usually two sets.

[Don Potter]

Cindy,
He may be referring to Sinodonty. This is a dental type common in mainland northern Asia and extends to include native Americans.
This information is from the book "The Real Eve" by Stephen Oppenheimer (pages 206-210). I highly reccomend this book.
I'm sure the internet will have more information on Sinodonty for you. Hope this helps.
Don Potter

[none45601us]

indian teeth

i have heard of indian teeth, but they are not extra pointed teeth. they are also called shovel teeth. it referes to the scooped out or shovel shape of the back of the incisores.both top and bottom have this cupped shape. only people of native american or asian heritage have them

[MAB]

I believe that it's the two front teeth at the top and four front teeth at the bottom which are shovel teeth. There is also a ridge just above the gum line. The teeth you seem to be describing are also known as eye teeth and are common to us all.

[lyssa751]

Extra Teeth

My step-son was growing an extra tooth that had two forklike points on it on the top front. We found it unusual so my husband and I took him to the dentist. He has been in the field for over 50 years, and when he saw this, he immediately replied," I've seen this before. When I would go down to Mexico on field work, I would see these on alot of the Chihuahua indians. They are common down in the area." He was pulling them for these indians for better use of their teeth. We assumed that my step-son has some blood line back from them either through his mother or my husband's side of the family. Hope this may help you out.

[Bob Swinea]

When I was a child a dentist told me that I had teeth like the Indians had (American Indians). They were two extra teeth that were small and pointed. They were located on both sides of my four front teeth (upper). The dentist told me what they were called but I don’t remember. Does anyone have any information about these “Indian teeth”?

I am American Indian. I have the shovel teeth and the ridge at the gumline. I have always hated to go to the dentist due to pain issues. Never could get me "numb". An Elder told me one time that we have an extra nerve to each tooth. I have told this to several dentists [never worked on a Rez] and they were amazed to find that this was true...at least in my case. That extra nerve makes deadening teeth very tricky for NAs. I have found a dentist who understands this unique physiology and I have no problems now --- except a life long mis-trust of dentists hahaha.
Peace,
Bob

[PDHOTLEN]

Indian Teeth

3/25/06

Since many Americans, especially those with at least some roots going back before the major European immigrant waves arriving after the Civil War, have some "Indian" DNA, I am wondering about intermediate forms of "Sinodonty." I myself may fall into that category, although I haven't received the results of my mtDNA test yet.

[Cindy]

My step-son was growing an extra tooth that had two forklike points on it on the top front. We found it unusual so my husband and I took him to the dentist. He has been in the field for over 50 years, and when he saw this, he immediately replied," I've seen this before. When I would go down to Mexico on field work, I would see these on alot of the Chihuahua indians. They are common down in the area." He was pulling them for these indians for better use of their teeth. We assumed that my step-son has some blood line back from them either through his mother or my husband's side of the family. Hope this may help you out.

Would you believe my father is from Chihuahua, Mexico? I am so happy to hear this information. Thank you so much for sharing it. Did you find this out recently? Is this dentist still in practice? I'm curious to know which tribe he saw this in since there are several different tribes in that area. My dad has had mtDNA matches with a few Navajo and Apache Indians and I'm having a hard time finding a connection to the Indians of Chihuahua.

[PDHOTLEN]

Indian teeth thread

My superficial reaction to the previous message (from Cindy), about SW and Chihuahua Indians, relates more to linguistics than DNA.

The way I understand it, based on National Geographic for example, is that Apaches and Navajos, being Athabascans, are relative newcomers to the southwest. The Indians native to Chihuahua (Uto-Aztecans) were there from time immemorial. But as far as DNA connections go, they probably intermingled somewhat.

The above is only speculation on my part.

[Cindy]

Yeah, the Apache Indians lived in Chihuahua. Many fled back there after they were placed on a reservation. But do Apache Indians have extra teeth or is that a trait found in the Uto-Aztecan tribes? That's what I wonder.

[PDHOTLEN]

Indian teeth thread

I'm sorry I can't contribute information specifically concerned with human teeth. Since dentists are, by training, biologists, they would be able to direct someone to applicable sources of information.

But the side topic of Chihuahuan Indians is interesting. Actually, acording to what I can get from looking at old National Geographic maps and other sources, is that they may have been a sister language group to Uto-Aztecan, but equally old, in that region. The ancient ruins of "Casas Grandes" may have been the high point of their culture, before the area dried up too much for cultivating corn, etc. And the area was also the center of the early "Mogollon" Culture.

Oh well..... Just some thoughts.

[Tooth Fairy]

Could anyone elaborate on shovel shaped teeth? I have searched high and low for pictures of actual teeth showing the shovel characteristics and have been entirely unsucessful. Ah, the power of the internet.

Really my specific question is, are all incisors somewhat curved/dished? Or are non Asian/American Indian triangular in shape?

Looking at this picture, which I would assume to be a non shoveled tooth, it appears that they are.

http://www.global-technologies.net/ShopSite/media/VE300_l.jpg

If someone could look at that model, which I hope is an accurate representation, and describe the differences between that and a tooth that has shovel characteristics I would greatly appreciate it.

Also what is meant by a ridge at the gum line? Is it a horizontal ridge going across the tooth, are you referring to what I'd call, for lack of an education, a reinforcing spine going vertically down the back of the tooth that appears in the tooth model I've listed.

Thanks!

[Kelley]

http://www.hawaii.edu/hivandaids/Ethnic_Dental_Analysis_of_Shovel_and_Carabelli_s_Traits_in_a_Chinese_Pop.pdf

Okay check out this link. It contains a photo of a mold of a set of "shovel teeth".

My family thinks we are part Native American, but we definitely don't have shovel teeth.

Kelley

[burto]

Hi,
Just find this topic interesting as I am trying to work out whether I have shovel teeth! I was quite worried because my lower front teeth "slope" and my uppers slope and get thinner toward the end of the tooth. Thought my teeth were wasting away (!) but seeing this thread and possibily having Native ancestry has got me thinking.
Does a shovel tooth have a distinctive "scoop" in it? Also where could I find an idiots guide to Carabelli's cusp?! Can't work out where it is (or isn't).
Thanks.