[ANATOMICAL FEATURES OF THE MAXILLARY ALVEOLAR ARCH IN ADULTHOOD]

Area of Science:

• Anthropology
• Anatomy
• Orthodontics

Background:

• Modern dental and bite correction methods necessitate understanding individual anatomical variability of the maxilla.
• The maxilla's structures and their variations are crucial for effective orthodontic treatments and dental corrections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the individual anatomical variability range of the maxilla and its associated structures.
• To establish correlations between skull types (brachycephalic, mesocephalic, dolichocephalic) and maxillary arch dimensions.
• To identify patterns of asymmetry in the upper alveolar arch in adulthood.

Main Methods:

• Detailed osteometry of the maxilla was performed on 100 integral and fragmented skull samples.
• Key measurements included maxillary arch length, width, and perimeter.
• Analysis correlated measurements with skull cephalic types and identified asymmetries.

Main Results:

• Maxillary alveolar arch length increases from brachycephalic to dolichocephalic skull types.
• Maxillary arch width is greatest in brachycephalic types and smallest in dolichocephalic types.
• A prevalence of right-sided asymmetry in the upper alveolar arch was observed in adults, linked to chewing patterns.

Conclusions:

• Three primary forms of the adult upper alveolar arch (expanded, medium, narrow) are identified, corresponding to skull types.
• Maxillary dental arch, alveolar arch, and apical arch exhibit distinct perimeters, with the apical arch withstanding maximal masticatory pressure.
• Understanding these anatomical variations is essential for advancing dental correction and abnormal bite treatments.