Year : 2019

Volume : Volume 10

Issue : Issue 1

Address for correspondence :
eDr. Nikunj A. Patel.
NikunjPatel@gmail.com

Abstract

Background:  Malocclusion in the vertical and sagittal planes is easy to observe, whereas it is difficult to diagnose malocclusion in the transverse plane. There are few criteria defining a normal transverse occlusion. ` Materials and Methods: A total sample of 50 maxillary dental models in the age range of 12–16 years were randomly selected. Intercanine width (ICW) and inter-palatal molar width (IPMW) were measured for all the models. Banker’s hypothesis, McNamara’s criteria and Pont’s analysis were applied. The models were bifurcated in two groups; deficient and normal arch, according to each analysis. The data were statistically analyzed using SPSS software version 23.0. Shapiro-Wilks test was performed to test the statistically significant difference between the groups. Results: The number of deficient arches identified by Pont’s, McNamara, and Banker’s hypothesis was 47 (95.9%),11 (20%), and 17 (34%), respectively. Similarly, the number of well‐formed arches identified by Pont’s, McNamara, and Banker’s hypothesis was 3 (4.1%), 39 (79.6%), 33 (65.3%), and respectively. There is no statistically significant difference. Nearly 98.60% of normal arches were found to have an IPMW to ICW ratio of 1:1 ± 0.05. On further analysis, it was found that when IPMW ≥34.83 mm, then the case may be considered to have normal arches, and if the ratio between IPMW to ICW is 1.11:1 ± 0.05 or more and IPMW is <34.83 mm, then the case may be identified as the deficient arch.  Conclusion: The IPMW-to-ICW ratio (Banker’s hypothesis) can be used to differentiate deficient and normal arches. This hypothesis is an easy and non-invasive method, using only two parameters- IPMW & ICW. It has been developed to help clinicians in identifying the adequacy of the transverse dimension.

Keywords: Maxillary Transverse Dimension, Intercanine width, Interpalatal First Molar Width.