Dental occlusion and arch size and shape in karyotype 46,XY females

The dental arch dimensions and occlusion of five Finnish individuals with complete testicular feminization were compared with their first-degree relatives and population female and male controls. The women with complete testicular feminization tended to have larger maxillary arch dimensions in all three spatial planes than the female and male controls, and larger mandibular arch dimensions in the transversal plane than the female controls. The results also suggested that the height/width ratio in the maxillary arch and width/length ratio in the mandibular arch would be greater in these females than in population females. Both the molar and canine sagittal relationships were more mesial than in the female and male population controls. As the phenotype in these 46,XY females is due to insensitivity to, or lack of androgens, it is suggested that the presence of the Y chromosome in these females leads to arch dimensions falling between those of normal females and males. This follows the same general dimensional pattern observed in their adult stature.