Anterior teeth selection in edentulous patients and its relationship with interhamular distance, maxillary arch width and maxillary central incisors: A study in North East Indian Population

Abstract

: In prosthodontics, esthetics a combination of the art and science. Patients requiring complete dentures usually expect comfort first, followed by harmonious appearance, and lastly efficiency. Therefore, the correct selection of the artificial teeth is essential for achieving a pleasant esthetic outcome. A number of soft tissue landmarks have been purported as useful for anterior tooth selection; but these are easily affected by several factors such as aging and the weight and build of the person. In the present study hard tissue landmarks like pterygomaxillary notches and maxillary arch width was presented as alternative anatomical landmark for anterior teeth selection. The aim of the study was to evaluate the hamular width and inter maxillary arch width which could be the guide for the selection ofartificial teeth for complete maxillary denture in the North-East Indian population.The study was conducted on 100 dentate individuals from the North Eastern Indian population, between the age group of 18- 30 years. All measurements were done with digital calliper on cast obtained after impression with irreversible hydrocolloid impression material.Pearson correlation analysis showed, statistically significant correlation between maxillary archwidth and central incisor width. The result was significant at p<0.05 but not high enough to be practically used. Correlation between hamular width and central incisor width was found to be insignificant. The value of R was 0.05435. The result was significant at p < 0.05. The maxillary arch width was in direct proportion to the maxillary central incisor width which meant that the increase of maxillary arch width,there was a corresponding increase of maxillary central incisor width. Significant correlation was found between maxillary arch width and central incisor width with p value=0132. The result was significant at p<0.05 but not high enough to be practically used. But In this study statistically insignificant correlation was found between hamular width and central incisor width.