title: Mandibular arch form: the relationship between dental and basal anatomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We investigated mandibular dental arch form at the levels of both the clinically relevant application points of the orthodontic bracket and the underlying anatomic structure of the apical base. The correlation of both forms was evaluated and examined to determine whether the basal arch could be used to derive a standardized clinical arch form.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five mandibular dental casts (skeletal and dental Class I) were laser scanned, and a 3-dimensional virtual model was created. Two reference points (FA, the most prominent part of the central lobe on each crown's facial surface, and WALA, a point at the height of the mucogingival junction) were selected for each tooth from the right to the left first molars. The FA and WALA arch forms were compared, and the distances between corresponding points and intercanine and intermolar widths were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both arch forms were highly individual and the tooth values scattered. Nevertheless, a highly significant relationship between the FA and WALA curves was found, especially in the canine (0.75) and molar (0.87) areas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both FA and WALA point-derived arch forms were individual and therefore could not be defined by a generalized shape. WALA points proved to be a useful representation of the apical base and helpful in the predetermination of an individualized dental arch form.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Dentistry, Vienna University, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ronay
authors.forename: R Matthew
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Miner
authors.forename: Leslie A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Will
authors.forename: Kazuhito
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Arai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002508:Cephalometry; D003196:Computer Graphics; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003724:Dental Arch / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000628:therapy*; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D003765:Models, Dental; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000379:methods