Re-evaluation of interarch space determination in fully dentate adults with different facial forms: A clinical study

Abstract

Aim: The aim is to determine the average inter-arch space of fully dentate subjects at rest and at occlusion with different facial forms. Materials and Methods: Fifty subjects each of three groups of facial form, square, taper, and oval facial with a complete set of maxillary and mandibular arch teeth with average age from 25 to 40 years were included in this study. An equal number of male and females were included in all the groups. Vertical height at rest and at occlusion was recorded in every subject of the all the three groups using a prescribed procedure, and freeway space (FWS) was measured. Results: The collected data were statistically evaluated, and it showed the mean and median for each facial form subjects, square facial form (3, 2.32), taper facial form (2.62, 2), and ovoid facial form (2.68, 2), respectively. No significant difference between any of the readings (P < 0.05). However, 9% of the individuals showed the FWS range of 5–6 mm. The lowest and highest FWS measurements were 1 and 7 mm, respectively. One more significant factor is that majority (56%) of the square facial form subjects showed FWS range of 3–4 mm. Conclusion: The conclusions were drawn, to understand the average inter-arch space in various facial forms, which was more than 3–4 mm.

Keywords

• Dentulous
• facial form
• freeway space
• jaw relation
• vertical dimension