Year : 2015

Volume : Volume 5

Issue : Issue 3s

Address for correspondence :
Dr. Vandana Gulia
gulia.vvandana7@gmail.com

Abstract

Background:  A pleasant physical appearance is the most important factor in the well-being of an individual and among physical appearance face is the first criteria. In facial esthetics the balance between the hard tissue and soft tissue plays the key role. It has been suggested that a narrow maxillary arch might result from orthodontic treatment, especially when maxillary teeth have been extracted. This has become a rationale against extracting teeth during orthodontic treatment. The purpose of this study was to compare and evaluate the changes in maxillary arch width with orthodontic treatment involving premolar extraction and non-extraction. Material and Method: Pretreatment and posttreatment casts of 20 all 4 first premolar extraction and 20 nonextraction patients were analyzed to determine any significant differences in arch widths, both within and between the 2 groups.  Result: There was a significant increase in the posttreatment maxillary intercanine width in the extraction group but not in the nonextraction group. Both the pretreatment and posttreatment arch widths between the maxillary first molars and at the level of the posterior rugae were greater in the nonextraction group than in the extraction group.  Conclusion: As they reflect different morphologies, there are likely to be significant differences in average maxillary anterior and posterior posttreatment arch widths in those treated with or without extractions. The treatment have to be carried out with thorough diagnosis and careful planning to make the choice of extraction or nonextraction treatment.

Keywords: Intercanine archwidth , intermolar archwidth.