Change in arch width in extraction vs nonextraction treatment / 대한치과교정학회지

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.