Natural variation in arch shape throughout growth: a 3 years case series study.
Objectives: Provide an analysis of morphological shape change as a funcion of growth seen in the maxillary and mandibular dental arches during childhood. Methods: Dental casts were taken over 3 years from 6 children aged between 6 and 12 years (2 males, 4 females) with normal occlusion selected from the pediatric dental departement of Monastir, according to the following criteria: no significant medical history, mixed dentition, well-aligned upper and lower dental arches, good facial symmetry, no history of trauma or extraction and no previous orthodontic or prosthodontic treatment. Dental stone casts were made from alginate impressions and dental arch dimensions (length arch, arch breadth and arch circumference) were measured by one examiner using digital caliper. Results: A natural augmentation of 2mm/ year was observed during the early mixed development period in the two youngest children of our case series study. This increase involved all dental arch measurements. An increase of intercanine and intermolar width (0.5mm/ year) was calculated with two patients aged between 8 and 11 years and no variations in lenght arches was observed. A decrease of 1mm/ year of the mandibular arch length and circumference and a low increase of intercanine and intermolar width were occured in two patients aged between 9 and 12 years. Individual variations and changes in the dental arches shape and dimension occured during the transition from mixed to the permanent dentition. Conclusions: During the mixed dentition, the cahnges that occur in the dental arches are consequences of tooth movement, growth of supporting bone and genetic component. This changes have considerable implications in malocclusion diagnosis and treatment planning in a modern dentistry based on prevention and early diagnosis of oral diseases.
Tunisian Section Meeting
2017 Tunisian Section Meeting (Monastir, Tunisia) Monastir, Tunisia
2017
Pediatric Oral Health Research
Chouchene, Farah
( Dental University of Monastir
, Mahdia
, Tunisia
)
Ghedira, Hichem
( Dental University of Monastir
, Mahdia
, Tunisia
)
Arayed, Houda
( Dental University of Monastir
, Mahdia
, Tunisia
)
Masmoudi, Fatma
( Dental University of Monastir
, Mahdia
, Tunisia
)
Maatouk, Fethi
( School of Dentistry
, Monastir
, Tunisia
)