Abstract

Dental arch dimensions undergo visible alterations as they grow, adapt, and age. Relatively rapid changes occur during the transitional dentition. Once a functional permanent dentition is established, smaller changes continue to be observed. The concept of maintainting of intercanine dimensions as an indicator for posttreatment stability has been supported by studies in the literature. An understanding of the development and changes in intercanine widths helps in distinguishing changes occurred from natural growth or appliance therapy, planning orthodontic treatment, and assessing stability and smile esthetics following orthodontic treatment. This article attempts to review the literature and summarizes the natural development and changes in intercanine widths of untreated dentitions; it will also establish a comparative standard for evaluating treatment changes to intercanine widths and their postretention stability produced by orthodontic treatment.

Recommended Citation

Lee, Yueh-Tse (2011) "Natural Development and Changes in Intercanine Widths of Untreated Dentitions," Taiwanese Journal of Orthodontics: Vol. 23: Iss. 4, Article 1.
https://doi.org/10.30036/TJO.201112.0001
Available at: https://www.tjo.org.tw/tjo/vol23/iss4/1