Dental Hygienist On Subject Of Shovel Teeth

I talked to a Dental Hygienist this past week on the subject of Shovel Teeth, and asked her about the subject of curved incisors. I told her I was told we all have them, but she said this is not true.

She said anyone and everyone can have them, which is what she said my dentist probably meant. She said she has found and not found this occurance in Asians, Blacks, Whites, etc. She said it was more genetic than that of a certain race.

For example she told me she has a bump on the same tooth that someone else in the family has. She has seen what has been termed as “Shovel Teeth” skip generations as well.

So I asked her point blank…”So curved incisors are not indicative of one race of people, or groups like Asians and Amerindian which is said to be the only ones who have this trait?” She replied “No, every race can have them and again, it is more family inherited than genetic.”

I asked her to explain the difference in what she meant by “inherited” and “genetic”, and she said she meant inherited in the family not by race or nationality meaning genetic. I replied “You mean it is not indicative of one race or certain races, right?” and she said “Yes, that is what I mean by genetic.”

She said she has seen Russian teeth wore to the nub. She said the Asians she has taken care of have strong teeth with no decay, but more gum illness because, she believes of diet. And she told me about one patient she had years ago who’s gums and teeth were shaped like that of a dog. She said she had never seen anything like it before or since.

I also talked to a Ukranian/European descended friend of mine who’s grandmother was in one of the concetration camps during World War II, who had one of the number tattoos under her arm. I had him check his teeth and he told me his upper incisors were curved, bur his bottom ones were not.

So perhaps not everyone has curved incisors, but so far it looks as though it is not only an Asian/Amerindian thing.