An Evaluation of Dental Crowding in Relation to the Mesiodistal Crown Widths and Arch Dimensions in Southern Indian Population

Introduction: With the advancement in Imaging Technology, 3D Dental Computed tomography plays a very significant role in orthodontic treatment and diagnosing. Aim: To evaluate the dental crowding in relation to the mesiodistal crown widths and arch dimensions and also to determine the differences of dental crowding among male and female in Southern Indian population. Materials and Methods: A total of 132 subjects, divided into 33 males and 33 females in crowded and non-crowded group comprising of 66 each, aged between 15 and 35 years, referred for computed tomography scan of brain to the radiology department, were selected. During the scan both the jaws were included in the image. The 2D images converted to 3D image using volume rendering software. By using measurement tool individual and collective mesiodistal crown widths of canine, first and second premolar and first molar and arch perimeter of both the maxillary and mandibular jaws were measured. Results: When both the gender were considered the mesiodistal crown widths and arch perimeter were statistically significant for dental crowding in both mandibular jaw (p-value 0.001 for both mesiodistal crown width and arch perimeter) and maxillary jaw (p-value 0.016 for mesiodistal crown width and 0.002 for arch perimeter). When analysed separately, male revealed that the mesiodistal crown widths and arch perimeter were statistically significant for dental crowding in both mandibular jaw (p-value 0.001 for mesiodistal crown width and 0.002 for arch perimeter) and maxillary jaw (p-value 0.002 for mesiodistal crown width and 0.001 for arch perimeter) but in female it was not statistically significant in any jaw (p-value 0.7 for mesiodistal crown width and 0.06 for arch perimeter in mandibular jaw and p-value 0.2 for mesiodistal crown width and 0.9 for arch perimeter for maxillary jaw). The crowded group has larger tooth size and smaller arch perimeter. Conclusion: This study concluded that in males the factors mesiodistal crown width and arch dimensions contributes to dental crowding and the crowded dentition has larger mesiodistal tooth size and smaller arch dimensions whereas in female both the factors are not responsible for crowding in Southern Indian population.