Changing occlusal variation in Pima Amerinds.

Occlusal variables and arch measurements have been recorded on 341 Pima Amerinds pertaining to two samples, one of older individuals raised on traditional diets, the other of younger individuals raised on refined commercial foods that are typical of modern urbanized people. Permanent dental occlusion is significantly more variable from defined ideals in the younger sample, despite their fewer deformities resulting from progressive aging. The youths had relatively narrower palates, correlating with a general trend among industrialized populations and also among experimental animals fed soft diets. Relative rate of deciduous tooth loss and replacement did not correlate with any occlusal variable.