Harris, A.M.P.MacKriel, Earl Ari.Dept. of OrthodonticsFaculty of Dentistry2013-11-262024-11-112009/12/112009/12/112013-11-262024-11-112008https://hdl.handle.net/10566/19516Magister Scientiae Dentium - MSc(Dent)The aim of this study was to determine whether there are changes in the interdental arch widths and arch lengths of the mandibular and maxillary arches during nonextraction and extraction orthodontic treatment. The records of 78 patients treated by one orthodontist were used for this study. Three treatment groups were selected: a nonextraction group (Group NE), a group treated with extraction of maxillary and mandibular first premolars (Group 44), and a group treated with extraction of maxillary first premolars and mandibular second premolars (Group 45). The arch width measurements were measured in the inter-canine, inter-premolar and inter-molar areas. The arch length was measured as the sum of the left and right distances from mesial anatomic contact points of the first permanent molars to the contact point of the central incisors or to the midpoint between the central incisor contacts, if spaced.Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics of the data, analysis of the correlation matrices, Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests and Kruskal-Wallis tests of the changes which occurred during treatment. The intercanine widths in the mandible and maxilla increased during treatment in all three groups, with the extraction groups showing a greater increase than Group NE (p<0.05). In Group NE the mandibular arch length increased (p>0.05), while the maxillary arch length remained essentially unchanged. Both extraction groups showed decreases in arch length in the dentitions (p<0.05), with greater decreases occurring in the maxilla. The difference in arch length change between the two extraction groups was not significant (p<0.05). The inter-canine arch width increased in all three treatment groups, more so in the two extraction groups. From this it is evident that extraction treatment does not necessarily lead to narrowing of the dental arches in the canine region. The inter-second premolar arch width decreased in both extraction groups. Non-extraction treatment resulted in an increase in the inter-premolar and inter-molar arch widths.enArch dimensionsorthodontic extractionsnon-extractionarch widtharch lengthinter-canine widthinter-molar widthinter-premolar widthThesisUniversity of the Western Cape