Authors: Dr. Shalin Raj Shah, Dr. Dan Fishel and Dr. Ryan Tamburrino
The goals of orthodontic treatment are well established for the sagittal and vertical dimensions in terms of how the teeth and jaws should relate, fit, and work together. Diagnostic and treatment strategies focusing on these dimensions are the topic of many orthodontic symposiums, conferences, and research papers. However, the transverse dimension is often missing from generally accepted and performed patient analyses and discussions. Additionally, well-defined criteria for determining if there is a need for correction based on objective means, instead of subjective, frequently are not used.
As there are treatment goals for the final tooth positions based on sagittal and vertical skeletal dimensions, there must be a set of defined goals for the transverse. For the posterior teeth, these would be to have them upright and centered in the alveolus in addition to being well-intercuspated with proper arch coordination, as shown in Figure 1.

Continue reading Periodontal Rationale for Transverse Skeletal Normalization