Korean J Orthod.  1972 Dec;3(1):7-13.

A study on the normal dental arch form of Korean adult

• Chung HI

Abstract

Many geometric curves are presented as representative form of normal dental arches by many authors; circle, ellipse, parabola or catenary curve. Among them those except circle seems difficult to be adopted as a guide in ideal arch form construction and practically many orthodontists chose circle as a standard. Author preferred circle of Bonwill's theory in study of anterior teeth alignment of Korean adults. Eighty three dental models which possess proper occlusion and good arch form were selected and copies of their occlusal surfaces obtained by Ricopy machine. The use of Ricopy machine made it possible to draw arch form exactly. Mesiodistal widths of six anterior teeth were measured and they were added to combined mesiodistal width of six anterior teeth. Circle, that include the points of two cuspal tips of canines and one incisal edge of central incisor were drawn. Distances of lateral incisors that are deviated from arc of this circle were measured and classified into four grades by degree and three groups by kind of teeth deviated. By counting the number of samples involved degree of fit of the circle to arch contour of Korean adult was described. Then, size of radius of circle, intercanine width and intermolar width were measured and evaluated their ratios to combined mesiodistal width of six anterior teeth. In normal occlusion of Korean adult anterior teeth seems to be arranged on an arc of circle the radius of which is similar to combined mesiodistal width of six anterior teeth. Intercanine width and intermolar width have rather constant ratios to combined width of six anterior teeth.

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Dental Arch*
Dental Models
Humans
Incisor
Radius
Tooth