The frequency and degree of expression of Carabelli’s trait on the permanent maxillary molars in a sample of Turkish individuals

Aim: Carabelli’s trait, a morphological feature on the mesiopalatal surface of the maxillary molars, has importance in anthropology, forensic sciences, and clinical dentistry. The aim of this study was to find the frequency and degree of expression of Carabelli’s trait and to assess the asymmetry of the trait, on three permanent maxillary molars in a sample of Turkish individuals. Methodology: Carabelli’s trait was evaluated using Dahlberg’s eight-grade scale on 462 subjects. Data were analyzed using a chi-square test. Results: The frequencies in the total, positive and negative expressions of the trait were, respectively, 64.5%, 37.7% and 26.8% on the first molars, 27.1%, 19.6% and 7.6% on the second molars and 10.3%, 8.7% and 1.6% on the third molars. The occurrence of the trait on the first and second molars was more prevalent in males than in females. The trait was most frequently bilateral and symmetrical without significant sex differences, with varying degrees of asymmetry that increased from the first to the third molars. The frequencies of presence-absence asymmetry and any degree of asymmetry on the first molars were 5.3% and 15.7%, respectively. Conclusion: This study revealed a comparatively high frequency of Carabelli’s trait with a relatively low asymmetry in a contemporary Turkish sample. This data has the potential to be used for anthropological, forensic, and clinical purposes.   How to cite this article: Yılancı HÖ, Özkan G, Akkaya N, Boyacıoğlu H. The frequency and degree of expression of Carabelli’s trait on the permanent maxillary molars in a sample of Turkish individuals. Int Dent Res 2022;12(3):112-9. https://doi.org/10.5577/intdentres.2022.vol12.no3.2   Linguistic Revision: The English in this manuscript has been checked by at least two professional editors, both native speakers of English.