Evaluation of maxillary and mandibular arch forms in an Italian adolescents sample with normocclusion

Authors

  • R Ferro Dental Unit, Regional Centre for the Study, the Prevention and the Therapy of Dental Diseases, Cittadella Hospital Health District n. 15, Veneto Region, Cittadella (Padua)
  • M Pasini Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, Dental Clinic, University of Pisa, Pisa
  • A Fortini Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, Dental Clinic, University of Pisa, Pisa
  • A Arrighi Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, Dental Clinic, University of Pisa, Pisa
  • E Carli Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, Dental Clinic, University of Pisa, Pisa
  • MR Giuca Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, Dental Clinic, University of Pisa, Pisa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23804/ejpd.2017.18.03.05

Keywords:

Adolescent, Arch form, Caucasian, Dental cast, Occlusion

Abstract

AIM: The purpose of this restrospective study was to evaluate the maxillary and mandibular arch forms in an Italian adolescents sample with normocclusion. METHODS: The dental casts of 106 adolescents (48 females and 58 males; mean age: 14 ± 0.5 years old) were included. Twelve clinical bracket points were measured for each cast and six parameters were evaluated: intercanine and intermolar width, canine and molar depth, canine and molar ratio. Moreover, each cast was classified into tapered, ovoid, or square form. Chi-square test and odds ratio for categorical variables and Student's T-test for continuous parameters were adopted and the level of significance was set at p< 0.05. CONCLUSION: These results are relevant since individualisation of orthodontic therapy leads to more effective treatment by working within the subject's natural dental arch shape.