Abstract

LOULY, Fabiane; NOUER, Paulo Roberto Aranha; JANSON, Guilherme  and  PINZAN, Arnaldo. Dental arch dimensions in the mixed dentition: a study of Brazilian children from 9 to 12 years of age. J. Appl. Oral Sci. [online]. 2011, vol.19, n.2, pp. 169-174. ISSN 1678-7757.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1678-77572011000200014.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated dental arch dimensional changes of Brazilian children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Dental casts were taken from 66 children (29 males; 37 females) with normal occlusion selected among 1,687 students from public and private schools aged 9, 10, 11 and 12 years, according to the following criteria: Class I canine and molar relationships; well-aligned upper and lower dental arches; mixed dentition; good facial symmetry; no previous orthodontic treatment. Dental arch dimensions were taken by one examiner using the Korkhaus' compass and a digital pachymeter. ANOVA test was applied to compare the arch dimensions at the different ages and the t-test was used to compare the arch dimensions of male and female subjects. Arch forms were compared by means of chi-square tests. RESULTS: Only the maxillary anterior segment length showed a statistically signifcant increase from 10 to 12 years of age. Males had a signifcantly larger maxillary depth than females at the age range evaluated. The predominant dental arch form found was elliptical. CONCLUSIONS: In the studied age range, anterior maxillary length increased from 10 to 12 years of age, males had larger maxillary depth than females and the predominant arch form was elliptical.

Keywords : Dental arch; Growth; Mixed dentition.