A longitudinal study of dental arch width at the deciduous second molars on children 4 to 8 years of age

Dan Boboia
Article Review 10/9/09

Title: A longitudinal study of dental arch width at the deciduous second molars on children 4 to 8 years of age.
Author: Howard Meredith and Wayne Hopp
The Journal of Dental Research: December 1956, Vol. 35, #6
Major Topic:
1) To present findings on the reliability of records for maximum rectilinear distance between the buccal surfaces of the deciduous second molars at three different ages.
2) Statistically describe interbuccal width at deciduous second molars on 12 age-arch-sex subgroups of North American white children.
3) To analyze longitudinal data pertaining to growth in dental arch width between 4 and 8 years of age.
4) To investigate a number of dental arch relationships
Methods:
40 boys and 37 girls enrolled in a long-term research program at the University of Iowa Dept. of Orthodontics. There were 4 criteria for acceptance: age (<4), race (white), geographic location (vicinity to Iowa City), and availability for longitudinal study (willingness to participate and likelihood of continuing residence in the region).

Additional Criteria:
1) Max. and mnd. Casts were required to be on file at 4, 6, 8 years of age
2) 4 erupted deciduous second molars present at each age
3) 4 erupted deciduous first molars present at each age
4) All buccal surfaces of the deciduous second molars free of restorative dental work
5) A developmental record showing no orthodontic treatment

Dental stone casts made from alginate impressions were obtained within 2 weeks of pts. 4, 6, and 8 birthday; Maximum rectilinear distance determined by measuring between the buccal surfaces of the right and left deciduous molars with calipers

Summary of Findings:
1) Maximum transverse diameter of dental arches at the deciduous second molars can be determined with high dependability
2) Interbuccal width at the deciduous second molars differs with arch, sex, and age. Maxillary arch is 3.1 mm wider then mandibular arch, the male arches are 1.9 mm wider then female arches, and the dental arches at age 4 are 1.7 mm narrower then at age 8 years.
3) The maxillary arch is slightly more variable then the mandibular arch
4) Changes in arch width differ widely from child to child between the ages of 4 to 8 years some arches remain close to the same while others increase as much as 3.5 mm
5) The two dental arches are positively related with regard to both size at a given age and, and change in size with advanced age.
6) There is a moderately high relationship between width of a given arch at 4 years and width of the same arch at 8 years, but there is no relationship between width of a given arch at 4 years and change in the width between 4 and 8 years.
7) Correlations between dental arch widths and widths of the face are positive but fairly low.