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Longitudinal dental arch changes in adults

G A Carter1, J A McNamara

  • 1Graduate Orthodontic Program, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109-1078, USA.

American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics : Official Publication of the American Association of Orthodontists, Its Constituent Societies, and the American Board of Orthodontics
|July 23, 1998
PubMed
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Dental arch dimensions like width and depth decrease slightly in untreated adults from adolescence to middle age. Mandibular incisor irregularity increased in most individuals, though changes were generally minor.

Area of Science:

  • Orthodontics
  • Dental Anthropology
  • Human Growth and Development

Background:

  • Understanding long-term changes in untreated dental arches is crucial for orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning.
  • Previous research has focused on growth during childhood and adolescence, with less data on adult changes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate longitudinal changes in dental arch dimensions and tooth alignment in untreated individuals from late adolescence into middle adulthood.
  • To assess the stability of dental arch form and occlusal relationships over a significant period of adult life.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal analysis of dental casts from 82 subjects (53 untreated) spanning late adolescence to the fifth/sixth decade.
  • Digital imaging and direct measurements evaluated arch width, depth, perimeter, incisor irregularity, curve of Spee, overjet, and overbite.

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  • Comparison between untreated individuals, a midadult sample, and a post-orthodontic treatment sample.

    • Main Results:

    • Statistically significant decrements were observed in dental arch width, depth, and perimeter, averaging less than 3 mm per dimension.
    • Males consistently showed greater mandibular incisor irregularity than females, with similar increases observed in both sexes.
    • Overbite, overjet, and curve of Spee remained generally stable throughout adulthood, with no significant correlations found between changes in arch dimensions.

    Conclusions:

    • Untreated dental arches undergo subtle but measurable reductions in size and increases in incisor irregularity during adulthood.
    • While some dimensions change, key occlusal features like overbite and overjet demonstrate considerable stability.
    • These findings contribute to the understanding of natural dental changes in adults, informing orthodontic management.