Migration of teeth in shortened dental arches.

In shortened dental arches (SDA) the remaining premolars tend to migrate distally. This may lead to a decrease of the vertical dimension, resulting in an increased load on the anterior teeth. Consequently the number and intensity of the occlusal contacts between the front teeth increase. This may result in interdental spacing in the upper front region. In this study the pattern of migration of the teeth in subjects with SDA (n = 60) is described. The SDA group is compared with subjects having complete dental arches (n = 72). Although a systemic effect of SDA has been found on interdental spacing for subjects under 40 years of age, it is concluded that this migration is within acceptable levels.