Measuring buccolingual inclination of mandibular canines and first molars using CBCT.

OBJECTIVES

To develop a reliable method to measure buccolingual inclination of mandibular canines and first molars, and to evaluate a possible correlation between buccolingual inclination with their respective interdental width.

METHODS

The sample consisted of 37 boys and 41 girls untreated orthodontic patients averaging 13.2±0.96 years. A line tangent to the inferior border of the mandible and the long axis of the tooth measured buccolingual inclination. Intercanine and intermolar widths were measured on casts.

RESULTS

Reliability (ICC) values were >0.94. The mean mandibular canine inclination was 98.0±4.1°, with mean width 26.0±2.2 mm. The mean mandibular molar inclination was 74.6±4.7° with mean width 40.9±2.7 mm. First molar inclination of Class II molar subjects (73.7±4.2°) was significantly less (p≤0.05) than of Class I subjects (75.6±4.9°). There were low correlations between interdental width and buccolingual inclination.

CONCLUSIONS

A practical and reliable method to measure buccolingual inclination of mandibular canines and first molars is here described using Cone Beam Computed Tomography and a commercially available DICOM software.