Dental and mandibular arch widths in three ethnic groups in Texas: a radiographic study.

The dimensions of the dental and mandibular arches were determined in 210 subjects belonging to Mexican American, black American, and white American ethnic groups. The measurements were taken from axial radiographs in which it was possible to trace the intrabony structures of the dentition and the position of the condyles. The study revealed that ethnic and sexual differences in the dental and mandibular arch widths were statistically significant. Males were 0.6 to 1.1 mm wider in their dentitions than females. Mexican Americans had the widest dental arch, although theirs was only 0.2 mm wider than black Americans. White Americans were significantly different; their dental arch was measured as 0.8 to 1.2 mm narrower than that of the other ethnic groups.