Method to classify dental arch forms.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to propose a method to classify dental arch forms of subjects with normal occlusion into several types that can ensure both goodness of fit and clinical application.

Methods: We selected 306 subjects with normal occlusion from 15,836 young adults, recorded 14 reference points that defined the distance between 2 arch forms as the area between 2 arches, and then classified the dental arch forms by using the partitioning around medoids clustering and silhouette method. We measured tooth size, arch width, basal arch width, arch depth, mesiodistal angulations, and buccolingual inclinations.

Results: We identified 3 types of arch forms, and cross-classification of the maxillary by mandibular arch forms showed a more frequent distribution in the diagonal elements than in the off-diagonal elements. The 3 arch forms showed differences in tooth size, arch width, basal arch width, and inclination of the posterior teeth.

Conclusions: By defining area discrepancies as distance measures and applying them to the cluster method by using medoids, the dental arch form can be classified keeping control for the extremes without bias. It is hoped that this method will have possible clinical applications in determining the shape and number of preformed orthodontic arch forms.