Measurement of Dental Arch Width Using a 3D-photogrammetry Digital Study Model

Introduction: Malocclusion ranks third among the most common dental and oral health problems found in the Indonesian population. Orthodontic treatment is needed to improve the arrangement of teeth and jaw relationships so that a normal occlusion can be achieved. Measurement of the dental arch width is one of the factors that plays an important role in determining the orthodontic treatment plan. Dental arch width is measured by analyzing the study model. In the current digital era, study models can be created in three dimensions, allowing measurements to be taken digitally. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether there is a difference in the measurement of the dental arch width between a conventional study model and a digital photogrammetry study model. Methods: This was a comparative analytical research with a quantitative approach. A total of 30 upper and lower jaw study models with Class I malocclusion were used as samples. The digital study model was created using photogrammetry techniques based on the same conventional study model. Measurements on both the conventional and digital study models were carried out twice. The data were then analyzed using the Wilcoxon test. Results and Discussion: The results showed a significant difference in the dental arch width measurements between the conventional and the digital photogrammetry study models (p <0.05). Conclusion: Although the measurement results showed a significant difference, the clinical relevance of this difference remains acceptable. Additional research is needed to determine the causes of the discrepancies in dental arch width measurements between conventional and threedimensional digital study models created using photogrammetry techniques.