Safety Valve Mechanism

Safety Valve Mechanism

Write a short note on the safety valve mechanism.
Answer. The safety valve mechanism is nature’s attempt to maintain proper occlusion.

The maxillary inter-canine width serves as a safety valve to compensate for the horizontal growth of the mandible.

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Safety value Mechanism in Maxilla

• Inter-canine width is completed by 12 years in girls and in Boys at 18 years of age in maxilla.
• The delay in growth of maxillary inter-canine arch width serves as a “safety valve” for pubertal growth spurts in mandible.
• No equal amount of horizontal growth is seen in maxilla while the mandible grow horizontally. Maxillary inter-canine width adjusts to the mandible dentition as it is brought forward. This is called as “safety valve mechanism.”

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Safety value Mechanism in Mandible

Inter-canine width is completed by 9 years of age in girls and in boys at 10 years of age.

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Question 2. Write short note on significance of inter­canine width.
Answer. Continuing growth of jaws often results in an increase in the inter-canine arch width during the mixed dentition period. This contributes to accommodation of the bigger permanent incisor in the arches.