Abstract

Background: Previous studies have described various dental arch shapes among different human groups, underscoring the importance of considering ancestry in the diagnosis and planning of dental treatments. Objective: To compare the shape and size of dental arches among Chile's admixed population and its ancestral populations. Methodology: An analytical observational study using geometric morphometric tools was conducted on 272 individuals of Amerindian, admixed, and European ancestry. Results: The analyses revealed a clear distinction in arch shape between Amerindian and Euro-descendant individuals (correct classification by DFA > 87%). In contrast, the dental arches of admixed individuals did not differ significantly from those of Euro-descendants. Regarding centroid size, individuals of Amerindian ancestry exhibited the largest arches (126.50 +/- 18.36 mm), followed by the admixed group (117.32 +/- 8.58 mm), and finally the Euro-descendant group (108.03 +/- 7.10 mm). Conclusions: The Chilean admixed population presents a dental arch shape that does not significantly differ from that of Eurodescendants and a size similar to that of Amerindians.