Maxillary arch width and buccal corridor changes with orthodontic treatment. Part 1: Differences between premolar extraction and nonextraction treatment outcomes

Abstract

In this retrospective study, we examined and compared the pretreatment and posttreatment arch widths and buccal corridor changes in subjects who had received orthodontic treatment either with or without premolar extractions. Methods: Pretreatment and posttreatment casts, frontal smiling photographs, and lateral cephalograms of 30 extraction and 27 nonextraction patients were analyzed to determine any significant differences in arch widths, buccopalatal inclinations of the teeth, and buccal corridor widths and areas, both within and between the 2 groups. Relationships between buccal corridor measurements and corresponding arch widths and buccopalatal inclinations of the teeth were also examin..