Dental and Alveolar Arch Widths in Normal Occlusion and Class II Division 1 Malocclusion

Abstract

This study was to evaluate and compare dental arch and alveolar widths of patients with Class II division one malocclusion with group of untreated normal occlusion subjects. This study was performed using measurement on dental casts of 30 normal occlusion and 30 Class II division 1 malocclusion of Iraqi sample aged 15-22 years. T-test was applied for comparing the groups , the finding of this study indicated that maxillary interpremolar width, maxillary canine, maxillary premolar and maxillary first molar and mandibular premolar and molar alveolar widths were found significantly narrower in the Class II division 1 group when compared with the normal occlusion sample (P<.001). The maxillary and mandibular intermolar and mandibular intercanine alveolar widths were statistically significantly larger in the Class II division 1 group ( P<.01) . Maxillary molar teeth in subjects with Class II division 1 malocclusion tend to incline to the buccal to compensate the insufficient alveolar base therefore rapid maxillary expansion rather than slow maxillary expansion should be considered during treat ment of Class II division 1 patients. The results of our study sugg ested that transverse discrepancy in Class II division one maloccl usion originated from upper posterior teeth and maxillary alveolar base.