The protostylid on teeth of Malawians, and the Mongoloid dental complex.

Abstract

The protostylid among the Malawians residing in East-Central Africa was examined and classified using Dahlberg's standard plaque. The occurrence of the protorstylid as an actual cusp was not found at all on first and second lower molars. This result is accordance with the finding on first lower molars in American Negroes. Therefore , the populationderived from Negroid racial stock seems to have less potentiality for expressing the protostylid than do other races. Hanihara mentioned that it might be better to be put the protostylid outside of the in the permanent dentition. However , taking into consideration the fact that Caucasoid-derived groups have a considerably lower frequency of the trait than do Mongoloid-derived groups , it is rather appropriate for the protostylid to beincluded as one component of the in the permanent dentition .