Summary
Objectives:
The diagnostic procedure commences with the initial examination, during which a number
of individual findings of the occlusion or malocclusion are clarified [1]. The objective
is to describe the morphological and functional characteristics on each patient using
specific guidelines, and then to provide a prognosis of the therapy. Upper and lower
arch compression in first premolars and molars area was visible before treatment.
Methods:
A special device (Czech technical university research prototype) was prepared for
this purpose. The optical head contains a digital color camera. The front of the optical
head consists of a removable prism which is put into the mouth. The findings can display
live images from the camera, which can be archived on a PC. The device captured and
geometrically calibrated images permitting comparison of several different dental
casts.
Results:
In the first part of this study 792 sets of study plaster casts were screened. Measurements
of dental arch width between reference points of canines, first premolars and first
molars were made: upper jaw: men: 3-3 – 35.1 mm (SE 0.13); 4-4 – 37.5 mm (SE 0.13);
6-6 – 48.1 mm (SE 0.19); women: 3-3 – 33.4 mm (SE 0.13); 4-4 – 35.6 mm (SE 0.15);
6-6 – 46.7 mm (SE 0.19). The second part concerns the group of 36 patients which is
different from the 792 controls. There were studied changes between initial, post-treatment
and post-retention alignment of upper and lower dental arch.
Conclusions:
Geometrically calibrated images help compare several different steps of the treatment
and show a significant difference between patients before and after treatment.
Keywords
Ortodontics - prosthetics - dental arch width - cast
