Anterior arch circumference adjustment - how much? CLL. Steyn, BChD, MChD; A.M.P. Harris, BChD, HonsBSc, MChD, FFO(SA)Orth; R. sgressed to the stage where an Angle Class 1 wuceal occlusion has been reached or nearly reached, it sometimes becomes obvious that nor- mal incisor overjet will not be possible without some spacing of the maxillary or mandibular i cisors. In such cases, if the curve of Spee and the interincisal angle are acceptable, it may be con- cluded that a Bolton’ discrepancy is present Interproximal stripping in the arch that demon- strates excessive tooth material is then often pre- scribed. In other eases, space must be created for ‘missing lateral incisor or for a peg-shaped lat- eral that must be restored to its correct mesio- distal dimensions. When constructing a Visual Treatment Objec- tive (VIO)? the question that sometimes arises is how much sagittal displacement of the inci- sors will take place during the elimination of anterior crowding, spacing, or overjet reduction. Experiments led one of the authors to the real- I clinical practice, when treatment has pro- |. du Preez, BSc(Eng), MS, DrEng ization that the simple formula most clinicians use when constructing a VTO, which states that ‘1mm sagittal change will need 2:mm of arch cit- cumference compensation,‘ does not hold true for the anterior teeth. This is because the incisors are arranged across the apex of a curved archform. Posterior to the canines, this two-to- ‘one formula is of acceptable accuracy for the av- ‘erage archform, because the buccal teeth of the two sides are nearly parallel to one another. Showfety and Baker° presented tables that al- lowed the practitioner to determine the effect of incisor and canine movement on arch circumfer- tence. Their calculations were based on a circu- Jar anterior arch form. However, a more recent study by Jones and Richmond* revealed that a parabolic shape fits the natural dental arch best. Based on the assumption of a parabolic anterior arch form, it was decided to generate a reference table whereby changes in arch length and arch circumference could be accurately assessed. Original Article Abstract Keywords ‘Submitted: June 1995 ‘tables presented by means of which changes in arch length and arch circumference can be more accurately predicted, thereby simplifying troatment planning for cases with special problems, e.g. aBolton discrepancy. Afundamental condition for the use of this table is that the anterior arch from canine to canine forms a parabolic curve, ‘Space analysis + Interproximal stripping * Overjet correction + Bolton discrepancy * Missing teeth Revised and accepted: August 1995 Angle Orthod 1996;66(6):457-462. The Angle Orthodontist Vol. 66 No. 6 1996 4576 ‘s 16 mm (2 mm increments) ‘Spacing ink (mem) “3 “2 Tablet Arch longth and arch circumference changes at intercanine widths of 18 °F ‘Space shortage in (rn) amie siete a) du Preez Harris, St 399999 2999993 3938933 39898998 393855593 18 ggeqseugy Sgs3ssasa BSS3S9S3o 4 6 3 0 2 6 8 18 Seagagae aI 58 43 fe a 45 4a a4 F3e593999 Sssadsaas ESP EE itd egrraneas tereanine width (nm) Vol. 66 No. 6 1996 rh cecurternce (mm); anarch longth (mm) ‘The Angle Orthodontist 458nference adjustment eo 78 Anterior arch circum ‘Spacing k(n) Scope Table 1, continued Arch length and arch circumference changes at intercanine widths of 18 - 46 mm (2 mm increments) Ceres ‘Space shortage in kr) 7 Seestt228 78 69. Er 88 52 4s 39355 89997 RSg399 S899999 3795899 99399592 Sgensosce Salsesaa5 & 80 88 52 49 pi 4a veesuresg 0 neoaygene esregagys S8ges2ert enasesacn enongsest 459 Vol. 66 No. 6 1996 ‘The Angle Orthodontist