The Bolton Analysis revisited

The purpose of this research was to validate the Bolton Analysis, and to investigate potential relationships between the Anterior Bolton Analysis and arch form.;Eighty-eight nonorthodontically treated optimal occlusions were identified and measured for individual tooth width and arch measurements. In this study the Anterior Bolton Ratio of 76.71% was just less than Bolton's Anterior Index of 77.2% and the Overall Bolton Ratio of 91.10% was close to Bolton's Overall Index of 91.3%. Males and females had similar Bolton ratios. The variations in arch form proportion found in the naturally occurring optimal occlusions in this sample did not result in significant differences in the Anterior Bolton ratio.;A second study compared the pretreatment to the post treatment Anterior and Overall Bolton Ratios in each of 90 orthodontic cases. The results showed no significant differences in the majority of cases. The results of both investigations validated Bolton's original findings.