Relationship between different points on the face and the width of maxillary central teeth in a Turkish population.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Dentists may have difficulty determining the appropriate widths of the maxillary central incisors (CW) when restoring teeth for patients with edentulism. Anthropological measurements can help.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this observational study was to evaluate the relationship between different anthropological distances on the face and the CW in a young Turkish population.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 210 Turkish dental students without dental and facial deformities participated in this study. Two different digital photographs of their face (relaxed and smiling) were taken. The intercommissural width (ICW), intermedial canthus width (MCW), interlateral canthus width (LCW), interpupillary width (IPW), interalar width (IAW), and CW were measured. The t test, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis were performed to determine the relationship between facial measurements and CW (α=.05).

RESULTS

A significant correlation was found between facial measurements (r=0.516[ICW], r=-0.534[IAW], r=-0.639[MCW], r=-0.599[LCW], and r=-0.683[IPW]) and CW in both sexes. All facial measurements, except ICW and IPW in women and MCW in men, had a significant effect on CW according to the multiple linear regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

IAW and LCW can be used to determine CW in both sexes. The ICW and IPW can be specific anthropological measurements for men, and the MCW can be a specific anthropological measurement for women to determine CW.