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Arch width changes from 6 weeks to 45 years of age
S E Bishara1, J R Jakobsen, J Treder
1College of Dentistry, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1001, USA.
Summary
Dental arch widths increase significantly from infancy through adolescence. After permanent teeth erupt, arch widths stabilize or slightly decrease, indicating no basis for expansion beyond established dimensions.
Area of Science:
- Orthodontics and Dental Anthropology
- Craniofacial Growth and Development
Background:
- Understanding longitudinal changes in dental arch dimensions is crucial for orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning.
- Previous studies have provided limited data on arch width development spanning from infancy to midadulthood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To longitudinally evaluate changes in intercanine and intermolar widths over a 45-year period.
- To determine the developmental trajectory of dental arch dimensions from infancy to adulthood.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of two cohorts: infants (6 weeks to 2 years) and subjects from the Iowa facial growth study (3 to 45 years).
- Measurements of maxillary and mandibular arch widths (intercanine and intermolar) from dental casts.
- Ensured high reliability with intraexaminer and interexaminer precision set at 0.5 mm.
Main Results:
- Significant increases in maxillary and mandibular arch widths observed from infancy (6 weeks) to 2 years of age.
- Intercanine and intermolar widths increased significantly between 3 and 13 years of age.
- A slight decrease in arch widths, particularly intercanine, occurred after the eruption of permanent dentition.
Conclusions:
- Dental arch widths undergo significant changes from birth to midadulthood.
- Established arch dimensions after canine and molar eruption provide no scientific basis for expansion in average patients.
- Clinicians and patients should recognize the natural limitations and stability of arch widths post-permanent dentition.