T. Brown, G. C. Townsend, S. K. Pinkerton, J. R. Rogers. University of Adelaide Press price £23.00; pp 327 ISBN

9780980723090

Yuendumu: legacy of a longitudinal growth study in Central Australia is a text relating two accounts: on one hand this is an account summarising dental findings from the study of a unique population; on the other it is a depiction of the experiences of researchers visiting a community with a vanishing way of life. The book is split into nine chapters which show the study's progression through time, from the early history of the Warlpiri people and foundations of the study to the main body of findings and finally a reflection on the future.

During the period 1951-1970 a series of observations including dental casts, photographs, oral examinations and radiographs were taken of the population. This afforded researchers a body of data for analysis. The data was used to 'compare the well-formed Aboriginal dentitions with the degenerate and diseased dentitions of European Australians.'

The book summarises the salient findings arising from the analysis of the body of data in chapters five (occlusal development and function) and six (facial growth patterns). A reflection on the limitations of the study is also included.

Despite an interest in the findings of the study, I found some ethical principles were absent. The original study was lacking, regarding issues of consent and the potential risk from the use of radiography with no clinical indication undertaken during this study. The plight of the Aboriginal population is not dissimilar to many cultures that have been made extinct during the course of time. The subject matter is one that requires a level of sensitivity, which the authors have achieved. Despite this, I cannot help but feel the application of ethics in the study was not comprehensive. This is, however, a well referenced summary of the study findings and would appeal to those interested in orthodontics.

The plight of the Aboriginal population is not dissimilar to many cultures that have been made extinct during the course of time. The subject matter is one that requires a level of sensitivity, which the authors have achieved. Despite this, I cannot help but feel the application of ethics in the study was not comprehensive. This is, however, a well referenced summary of the study findings and would appeal to those interested in orthodontics.