DEVELOPMENT OF DENTAL ARCHES DURING ADOLESCENCE

Cilj istraživanja bio je procijeniti promjene oblika zubnog luka tijekom adolescencije te utvrditi moguću povezanost s pojavom tercijarne zbijenosti. Istraživanje uključuje 68 ispitanika (49% žena), ortodontski netretiranih pripadnika bijele rase, stanovnika norveškog grada Nittedala. Pozivani su na kontrolne preglede svake tri godine. U ovom radu analizirani su podaci ispitanika za dobi 12, 15, 18 i 21 godinu. Mjerenja su uključivala interkaninu, interpremolarnu/prednju i intermolarnu/stražnju širinu, prednju dužinu donjeg zubnog luka, Littleov i Boltonov indeks te omjer prednje dužine i širine donjeg zubnog luka. Interkanina širina se kod muškaraca smanjuje se od 12.-15. godine, a raste od 18.-21. godine (p=0.006). Stražnja širina se u oba spola smanjuje između 12 i 18 godina, a nakon 18. godine se povećava. Muškarci u svakoj dobi imaju značajno veće stražnje širine od žena (p1mm smanjuje za 74% rizik za nastanak tercijarne zbijenosti >1mm u istom periodu (OR: 0,265: 95% CI 0,076-0,931; p=0,045). Zubni lukovi nastavljaju se mijenjati tijekom adolescencije. Oblik donjeg zubnog luka postaje četvrtastiji, primarno zbog smanjenja dužine donjeg zubnog luka. Dolazi i do pojave kasne zbijenosti mandibularnih inciziva, a povećanje mandibularne interkanine širine smanjuje izglede za nastanak zbijenosti.The aim of this study was to analyze the changes in dental arch shape during adolescence and to assess its relation with late mandibular crowding. The sample included 68 (49% female) subjects, orthodontically untreated Caucasians, from the Nittedal growth study in Norway. They were recalled for check-ups every three years. This study analyses the data for the ages of 12, 15, 18 and 21. Measurements included anterior arch depth, intercanine, interpremolar/anterior and intermolar/posterior width, Little's and Bolton's index and the ratio between anterior arch depth and width. The intercanine width in men decreasees between the age of 12 and 15 and grows from the age of 18 to 21 (p=0.006). The posterior width decreases between 12 and 18 years and increases after the age of 18. Men have significantly higher posterior widths than women at any age (p1mm reduces the risk for manidbular incisor crowding for >1mm in the same period by 74% (OR: 0.265: 95% CI 0.076-0.931; p=0.045). Dental arches continue to change during adolescence. The shape of mandibular dental arch becomes more square-shaped, mostly due to decrease of the mandibular arch length. Mandibular incisor crowding does occur during adolescence and the increase in mandibular intercanine width reduces the risk for its developmen