Development of the Occlusion

Abstract

The mixed dentition period spans the period where both primary and permanent teeth are present. This period of dental development requires complex coordination between resorption of primary tooth roots, alveolar bone development and eruption of succedaneous permanent teeth. A thorough knowledge of dental arch dimensions changes, as a result of growth and development, is of paramount importance to the clinician. The purpose of this chapter with the question-answer format is to provide in depth the relationship between the tooth eruption pattern and dental arch changes during the transition from mixed to permanent dentition. In the second part of the chapter, through clinical examples and a problem-based approach, a thorough knowledge of the tooth eruption sequence, as well as tooth eruption abnormalities and arch space loss is provided.

Keywords: Dental arch length, Dental space deficiency, Late mesial shift, Leeway space, Mixed dentition, Tooth development.

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