Evaluation of dental and basal arch forms using cone-beam CT and 3D virtual models of normal occlusion

Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between the mandibular dental and basal arches using CBCT, and to assess the correlation between basal arch dimensions derived from CBCT and 3-dimensional (3D) virtual models in a cohort sample exhibiting normal occlusions. Methods: The facial axis (FA) and root centre (RC) points of mandibular teeth were identified on 32 CBCT images. FA and WALA points were digitised on 3D models of 28 mandibular casts from the same sample. The relationships between dental and basal arch dimensions, and between the two basal depth dimensions derived from RC and WALA points were statistically assessed by Pearson's correlation. Results: Strong correlations were found between dental and basal intercanine and intermolar arch widths. Also, the basal intercanine width showed a moderate correlation with dental intermolar width and depth. The basal intercanine and intermolar widths measured on 3D models showed moderate correlations with those measurements on CBCT, whereas the basal canine and molar depths showed no correlations. Conclusions: The dental and basal anterior and posterior arch widths were strongly correlated in normal occlusion. No correlations were found between the arch depths measured from WALA points and RC points. Hence, RC points may represent more useable landmarks compared to WALA points in the evaluation of basal arch forms. It is recommended that the relationship between the dental and basal arches is evaluated during treatment planning in order to improve arch co-ordination.