title: Evaluation of arch width among Class I normal occlusion, Class II Division 1, Class II Division 2, and Class III malocclusion in Indian population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the hypothesis that there is no difference between Class I (CI) normal occlusion, Class II division 1 (CIId1) and CII division 2 (CIId2), and Class III (CIII) malocclusion with respect to arch widths, width of the maxillary and mandibular arches, gender dimorphism within groups, and gender comparisons.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples of 40 CI subjects, 40 CIId1 subjects, 40 CIId2 subjects, and 34 CIII subjects were studied. All subjects were Indians with no history of orthodontic treatment. An analysis of variance and Duncan's test statistically compared the groups and genders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CIId1 malocclusion showed the narrowest maxillary arch compared with the other types of malocclusions. CIII malocclusion showed largest mandibular arch than other types of malocclusions. Gender dimorphism is more commonly seen in CI normal occlusion than other types of malocclusions. Gender dimorphism is not observed in CIId1 group. Gender comparisons revealed arch width differences between different types of malocclusions more pronounced in males than in females. The maxillary/mandibular intermolar width difference is positive for CI normal occlusion and negative for CIId1, CIId2, and CIII malocclusions, which suggested, the presence of crossbite tendency in CII and CIII malocclusions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The hypothesis is rejected by the findings of this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, AMC Dental College and Hospital, Ahmedabad, India.
authors.forename: Dolly
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Government Dental College and Hospital, Ahmedabad, India.
authors.forename: Falguni
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.affiliation: Private Practice, Ahmedabad, India.
authors.forename: Nimesh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Graduate DDS Student, Herman Ostrow of Dentistry of USC, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Nishit
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.affiliation: Private Practice, Ahmedabad, India.
authors.forename: Ipist
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Trivedi
authors.affiliation: Graduate Student, School of Public Health, Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: Apexa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mehta
keywords: Alveolar width; arch width; intercanine width; intermolar width; malocclusion