A longitudinal study of dental arch growth.

Changes in dental arch size and form were assessed by means of univariate and multivariate analysis in a longitudinal study of children between 2 and 10 years of age. The multivariate analysis served to assess the arches as a biologic whole rather than as a series of independent dimensions. Dental arches do not seem to undergo a steady rate of change up to the age of 10 years. In the arches anterior to the first permanent molars, peaks of growth occur between 2 and 3 years and 7 and 8 years in the maxilla, and between 2 and 3 years and 5 and 6 years in the mandible. In the arches, including the first permanent molars, peaks of growth occur between 6 and 8 years in the maxilla and between 9 and 10 years in the mandible.