D E space--a realistic measure of changes in arch morphology: space loss due to unattended caries.

By using only a portion of the dental arch, rather than some geometric construction that conforms to the dental arch, more pertinent information can be gathered regarding the sequelae of some event or insult to the arch. The measurement, D E Space, has been explained and utilized to describe the effectss of unattended dental caries on arch form. Only caries which become severe have a significant effect on the dental arch--a reduction in D E Space, which can be interpreted as relative arch length (depth) and is significant only for the year after its exfoliation. This occurs one year early and is also significant.