What skeletal feature can contribute to spacing in dental arches?

A wide dental arch can contribute to spacing in dental arches because it provides more lateral distance between the teeth than narrower arches. When the dental arch is broader, the teeth have more room to align, which can lead to gaps or spacing between them. This spacing can occur naturally due to the size and contour of the arch, allowing for the teeth to be more evenly distributed without crowding.

In contrast, proclined incisors can actually lead to a decrease in arch space by tipping the teeth forward, potentially contributing to crowding rather than spacing. Generalized gingival enlargement may create the appearance of spacing but, in fact, primarily affects the soft tissues surrounding the teeth and may complicate maintenance of dental health without resolving space issues. The presence of malocclusion typically results in misaligned teeth, which can further complicate spacing by creating crowding or gaps due to improper relationships between the teeth. Thus, a wide dental arch serves as a straightforward contributor to the creation of spacing in dental arches.