Abstract:

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the harmony between the mandibular arch dimensions of a Turkish sample that has Class I occlusion without orthodontic treatment history and the arch dimensions of archwires produced by different manufacturers. Materials and Methods: Mandibular dental casts were fabricated from 40 individuals with dentoskeletal Class I relationships, with minimal crowding. Dental casts were reduced to two dimensions using a photocopy machine, the intercanine distance, canine depth, intermolar distance and molar depth was recorded. The same parameters were measured in 8 rectangular archwires (named from A to H) marketed by 5 manufacturers and the measurement differences were compared. Results: The archwire whose intercanine distance was the most suitable for the arch dimensions of the individuals in the study group was arch B, and the archwire with the most suitable intermolar distance was arch A. When the intercanine and intermolar distances were evaluated together, the archwire most compatible with the data of the individuals in the study group was arch A. The archwire that was the most incompatible with the arch dimensions of the individuals in the study group was arch D. Conclusion: Differences were observed between the arch dimensions of all archwires evaluated in the study and the arch dimensions of the individuals in the study group. It may be advisable to take this finding into consideration in the maintenance of the orthodontic treatment results.

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