Dental and alveolar arch widths in normal occlusion, class II division 1 and class II division 2.

The aim of this study was to compare the transverse dimensions of the dental arches and alveolar arches in the canine, premolar, and molar regions of Class II division 1 and Class II division 2 malocclusion groups with normal occlusion subjects. This study was performed using measurements on dental casts of 150 normal occlusion (mean age: 21.6 +/- 2.6 years), 106 Class II division 1 (mean age: 17.2 +/- 2.4 years), and 108 Class II division 2 (mean age: 18.5 +/- 2.9 years) malocclusion subjects. Independent-samples t-test was applied for comparisons of the groups. These findings indicate that the maxillary interpremolar width, maxillary canine, premolar and molar alveolar widths, and mandibular premolar and molar alveolar widths were significantly narrower in subjects with Class II division 1 malocclusion than in the normal occlusion sample. The maxillary interpremolar width, canine and premolar alveolar widths, and all mandibular alveolar widths were significantly narrower in the Class II division 2 group than in the normal occlusion sample. The mandibular intercanine and interpremolar widths were narrower and the maxillary intermolar width measurement was larger in the Class II division 2 subjects when compared with the Class II division 1 subjects. Maxillary molar teeth in subjects with Class II division 1 malocclusions tend to incline to the buccal to compensate the insufficient alveolar base. For that reason, rapid maxillary expansion rather than slow expansion may be considered before or during the treatment of Class II division 1 patients.