Assessment of Dental Arch Width in Individuals With Various Growth Patterns: A Cross-Sectional Study
Background
Dental arch width significantly impacts orthodontic diagnosis, treatment planning, and the stability of results after treatment. Different skeletal growth patterns—hypodivergent, normodivergent, and hyperdivergent—affect craniofacial shape and dental arch dimensions. Nonetheless, there is limited research comparing arch widths among these growth types, particularly in South Indian populations.
Objectives
This study aimed to measure maxillary and mandibular arch widths in normodivergent, hypodivergent, and hyperdivergent individuals. It also sought to compare differences in interpremolar, intermolar, premolar basal, and molar basal arch widths among these growth patterns.
Materials and Methods
A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed on 90 orthodontic patients aged 16 to 30 years at RVS Dental College and Hospital. Pretreatment dental casts and lateral cephalograms, obtained from patient records for routine diagnostic and treatment purposes, were analyzed in the Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics.
Only records meeting quality standards and diagnostic criteria were included. All data were anonymized, with no direct patient contact or intervention involved.
Based on cephalometric analysis using FMA, SN-GoGn, and Y-axis measurements, participants were grouped into three categories of 30 each: normodivergent, hypodivergent, and hyperdivergent.
The groups were classified "based on cephalometric parameters (FMA, SN-GoGn, Y-axis)" to ensure accurate subgrouping according to growth patterns.
Author's summary: This study evaluates dental arch widths across three growth patterns in South Indian patients, providing valuable data for orthodontic treatment tailored to craniofacial morphology.