Korean J Orthod.  2007 Feb;37(1):65-72.

Change in arch width in extraction vs nonextraction treatment

• Jeon JY
• Kim SJ
• Kang SG
• Park YG

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This study was performed to investigate the influences of extraction and nonextraction treatment on smile esthetics by measuring dental arch width changes.
METHODS
Pretreatment and posttreatment study models of 30 first premolar extraction cases and 30 nonextraction cases were randomly selected to determine whether extraction treatment results in narrow dental arches, and a consequent unaesthetic smile. Arch widths were measured from the cusp tips of the canines and the first molars. Posterior arch widths were also measured at a constant arch depth derived by averaging randomly chosen nonextraction models.
RESULTS
The intercanine widths increased significantly in the extraction sample, whereas the intermolar widths decreased significantly. The arch width at a standardized arch depth was significantly wider in the extraction subjects.
CONCLUSION
These results elucidate that constriction in arch width is not a materialized consequence of extraction treatment. It leads to postulate that an esthetically compromising effect from narrow dental arches on smile is hardly anticipated with extraction treatment.

Keyword

Arch width; Extraction treatment; Nonextraction treatment

MeSH Terms

Bicuspid
Constriction
Dental Arch
Esthetics
Molar