Fluctuating odontometric asymmetry in an urban South African black population.

The magnitude of fluctuating odontometric asymmetry is reported for a group of 106 urban South African Blacks by use of re-scaled asymmetry values and Euclidean map analyses. When these results were contrasted with those reported for South African Caucasoids and Paraguayan Lengua Indians, Blacks were found to be significantly more asymmetric. It is suggested that the disproportionately high levels of dental asymmetry may be ascribed to the high disease and malnutrition burden of South African Blacks and to decreased individual buffering ability. The present study failed to support Garn's model of x-chromosomal odontogenetic buffering in females, and also failed to confirm significant arcadal differences in the magnitude of fluctuating odontometric asymmetry.