Cranial Affinity Among Historical Populations in Sardinia, Italy: Biometric Insights for Orthodontic Purposes

Abstract

Abstract Since human skulls may be used as a benchmark of the evolutionary process, the aim of the present study to assess the cranial affinity of Sardinian populations from different historical periods with a standard index to evaluate its benefits for orthodontic purposes. Craniometric variables from four throughout cephalograms (anterior and lateral) of 72 units from historical Sardinian populations, two prehistoric, one medieval, and one modern were compared to the Bolton standard. Anova-one way was performed for means comparison. Hierarchical cluster analysis and the bootstrap technique for the reliability of dendrogram were performed. Length data pointed out statistically significant results (p < 0.01). Usually, the medieval showed higher mean values compared to the other groups; the prehistoric population presented the highest value of Euclidean distance when compared to the medieval; the modern showed no affinity to prehistoric populations nor to the Bolton standard. The length and the breadth of the neurocranium, maxillary-alveolar length, orbital height, maximum cranial breadth and palate breadth external contributed to the dissimilarity among populations. Dissimilarities in the craniometric measurements of Sardinian populations are impressive. Therefore, the main outcome showed that the craniometric standards as the Bolton standard are not applicable across the Sardinian population.