Appraisal of Dental Arch Dimension in Gujarati Males and Females

Aim : This study is carried out on Gujarati population to collect the relevant data & evaluate the arch dimensions. Materials and Method: Full mouth dental casts were obtained from 60 subjects (30 males and 30 females) aged 18-25 years belonging to Gujarati population inhabiting in Gujarat. Eighteen buccal cusp tips and mid-incisal edge points were marked on each maxillary and mandibular cast. All the digital images were transferred to AutoCAD and the co-ordinates of buccal cusp tips of all teeth were determined. Arch widths and depths were computer generated as straight-line distance between the dental landmarks. Results: Comparison of arch dimensions between males and females showed that, the transverse measurements i.e. inter-canine width and inter-second molar width were significantly larger in male subjects as compared to those of females in both the arches. Also in the maxillary and mandibular arch the canine depth and second molar depth was significantly larger in males as compared to that of females. In the maxillary and mandibular arch, the inter-canine width and inter-second molar width were highly significant, and second molar depth was significant, while canine depth was significant in maxilla but not in mandible. Conclusion: The arch dimensions showed that the males had significantly larger inter-canine width, inter-molar width, canine depth and molar depth in maxillary and mandibular arches as compared to those of females