The dental arches are the two
arches (crescent arrangements) of
teeth, one on each
jaw, that together constitute the
dentition
Dentition pertains to the development of teeth and their arrangement in the mouth. In particular, it is the characteristic arrangement, kind, and number of teeth in a given species at a given age. That is, the number, type, and morpho-physiolo ...
. In humans and many other species; the
superior
Superior may refer to:
*Superior (hierarchy), something which is higher in a hierarchical structure of any kind
Places
*Superior (proposed U.S. state), an unsuccessful proposal for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to form a separate state
*Lake ...
(
maxillary or upper) dental arch is a little larger than the
inferior
Inferior may refer to:
* Inferiority complex
* An Anatomical terms of location#Superior and inferior, anatomical term of location
* Inferior angle of the scapula, in the human skeleton
*Inferior (book), ''Inferior'' (book), by Angela Saini
* ''The ...
(
mandibular or lower) arch, so that in the normal condition the teeth in the
maxilla (upper jaw) slightly overlap those of the
mandible (lower jaw) both in front and at the sides. The way that the jaws, and thus the dental arches, approach each other when the
mouth
In animal anatomy, the mouth, also known as the oral cavity, or in Latin cavum oris, is the opening through which many animals take in food and issue vocal sounds. It is also the cavity lying at the upper end of the alimentary canal, bounded on ...
closes, which is called the
occlusion, determines the occlusal relationship of opposing teeth, and it is subject to
malocclusion (such as
crossbite) if facial or
dental development was imperfect.
Because the
upper central incisors are wider than the
lower ones, the other teeth in the upper arch are arrayed somewhat
distally
Standard anatomical terms of location are used to unambiguously describe the anatomy of animals, including humans. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position pro ...
, and the two sets do not quite correspond to each other when the mouth is closed: thus the
upper canine tooth rests partly on the
lower canine and partly on the
lower first premolar, and the
cusps of the upper
molar teeth
The molars or molar teeth are large, flat teeth at the back of the mouth. They are more developed in mammals. They are used primarily to grind food during chewing. The name ''molar'' derives from Latin, ''molaris dens'', meaning "millstone to ...
lie behind the corresponding cusps of the lower molar teeth.
The two series, however, end at nearly the same point behind; this is mainly because the molars in the upper arch are the smaller.
Since there are a standard number of teeth in humans, the size of the dental arch is of vital importance in determining how the teeth are positioned when they appear. While the arch can expand as a child grows, a small arch will force the teeth to grow close together. This can result in overlapping and improperly positioned teeth. Teeth may tilt at an awkward angle, putting pressure on gums when food is being chewed. This can ultimately lead to compromised gums or infections.
Dentists replace missing, damaged, and severely decayed teeth by fixed or removable prostheses to restore or improve mastication function. There is a fundamental question in any treatment plan, namely, the desirable/mandatory length of an occlusal table.
There have been various references in the literature to the concept of the short dental arch (SDA) as a defined treatment option for the partially dentate patient. While many dentists may accept that restoring the complete dental arch is not always necessary, there still is the need to provide the patient with an affordable and functional treatment, a need satisfied by the short dental arch.
[Debora Armellini, DDS, MS, and J. Anthony von Fraunhofer, "The shortened dental arch: A review of the literature" The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry Vol.2 No.6]
A hemiarch (''
hemi-'' + ''arch'') is the right or left half of an arch. It corresponds to 1 of the 4
quadrants.
References
Mouth
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