Causative factors and predictability of arch length discrepancy

Jung, Min Ho; Yang, Won Sik

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to estimate relative importance among the causative factors of arch length discrepancy(ALD) and possibility of prediction of the ALD in the mixed dentition. The sample consisted of the casts of the 142 young adults who had no abnormal muscle function. no skeletal abnormalities and Class I molar relationship. We classified the sample by gender and the extent of ALD, and measured mesiodistal diameters of each tooth and the dimensions of the dental arch. The computerized statistical analyses was carried out with SPSS win program. The results were as follows ; 1. Most of the variables of spacing group, and some variables of dental arch dimension of crowding group were significantly different between genders. But in normal group, there were few differences. 2. In male crowding and female spacing group, mainly measurements of tooth dimension were significantly different from those of normal group. 3. In male spacing and female crowding group, measurements of dental arch dimension were significantly different from those of normal group. 4. The measurements of dimension of dental arch were highly correlated with ALD in correlation analysis and factor analysis. 5. Prediction equations for adult's ALDs by means of what can be measured in the mixed dentition(mesiodistal dimensions of incisors and first molar, intermolar width and arch length) showed R square from 63% to 80 %.