Size of Dental Arches in a Tribe of Central Australian Aborigines

Abstract

Maxillary and mandibular arch breadth and depth measurements from dental casts of 204 subjects were used to estimate parameters representing male and female adolescents and young adults. Findings were compared with those previously reported for a different tribe of Australian aborigines and for Swedes and Aleuts. Mean values for arch breadth measurements of adults differed little from those of adolescents whereas arch depth measurements were significantly smaller in adults than adolescents. The trend of developmental changes indicated by these findings is discussed.