Transversal changes in dental arches from non-extraction treatment with self ligating brackets.

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed at analyzing, with the use of dental casts, the transverse changes of the upper and lower dental arches, after non-extraction orthodontic treatment, with self-ligating brackets.

METHODS

The sample comprised 29 patients, all presenting Class I malocclusion with upper and lower crowding of at least 4 mm and treated only with a fixed appliance, without stripping, extraction or distalization. The dental casts were obtained before and after leveling with 0.019 x 0.025-in stainless steel archwires.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicated that the majority of transverse changes occurred at the premolar areas, both the first and the second, as well as on the upper and lower dental arches. The intercanine distance increased 0.75 mm, on average, in the upper arch and 1.96 mm in the lower arch. The molars also demonstrated a tendency towards an increase in their transverse dimension, however, at a lower intensity comparing to premolars. All measurements presented statistically significant differences with the exception of the maxillary second molars.