Prediction of dental arch width increase in the early mixed dentition using craniofacial parameters

The dimensions of the dental arch have considerable impact on treatment planning. Since the dental arch development has a relationship with the craniofacial growth, we designed a cohort study to find a regression model for predicting the mandibular arch width increase using craniofacial parameters.

A total of 148 children, all in early mixed dentition, were selected randomly from primary schools by cluster sampling. Craniofacial anthropometric parameters were measured by a caliper bow and intercanine and intermolar widths were assessed on each subject's dental casts by a digital caliper at baseline and after 12 months. Data were analyzed with SPSS v. 15. Student's t-test and linear regression test were applied separately for girls and boys.

Out of 153 children, 148 returned for one-year follow-up meeting the inclusion criteria. The results of regression analysis showed a significant inverse correlation between intercanine width and facial index. The bigonial dimension showed a high correlation with both the intermolar width and the intercanine width increase.

We found that the arch width increase in the early mixed dentition could be predicted precisely based on certain craniofacial parameters.