An Assessment of Curve of Spee in Healthy Human Permanent Dentitions: A Cross Sectional Analytical Study in a Group of Young Indian Population.

INTRODUCTION

An awareness of the standard value of the maxillary and the mandibular curves of Spee may aid the clinician in developing occlusion in the sagittal plane and would be useful when providing prosthetic rehabilitation for patients with occlusal derangement.

AIM

To assess and compare the radius and depth of curve of Spee in maxillary and mandibular arches in men and women, in a group of young Indian population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study cohort consisted of 25 men and 25 women between 19 to 24 years. Impression of maxillary and mandibular arches were made with alginate. Casts were poured in die stone. Standardized digital pictures of the right side of maxillary and mandibular dental casts were made with a digital camera and transferred to a computer. Tips of the distal cusps of molars, premolars and canines of the maxilla and mandible were located. The radius and the depth of the curve of Spee were measured from the digital photographs of dental casts, with the help of 'dimension tool' in the computer software (Corel DRAW X5). Mann-Whitney test was used to analyze the difference in the curve of Spee between men and women and the difference between maxillary and mandibular arches.

RESULTS

The mean values were as follows: a) Men: Radii of curve of Spee in the maxillary and mandibular arch were 140.22±65.98 and 109.67±46.80 respectively; depths of curve of Spee in maxillary and mandibular arch were 1.65±0.67 and 1.49±0.74 respectively; b) Women: Radii of curve of Spee in the maxillary and mandibular arch were 120.58±63.91 and 98.31±63.59 respectively; depths of curve of Spee in maxillary and mandibular arch were 1.45±0.54 and 1.40±0.61 respectively. In the mandibular arch, the difference in the radii (p=0.0467) was statistically significant between men and women. In women, the difference in radii (p=0.0467) between maxillary and mandibular arches was statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

The radii and depths of curve of Spee were larger in maxillary than mandibular arches in both men and women. Also, the difference in the radii of mandibular arch was statistically significant between men and women.