Central incisors shape and proportions prevalence in Argentinian university students: by visual assessment and a new standardized method.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the dimensions of the clinical crown of upper central incisors and the prevalence of tooth shapes by two different protocols. Assessment was performed on each of the 111 dental stone type V maxillae models of students of dentistry from Buenos Aires University [93 females and 18 males, mean age 23.70 (± 2.26) years] The mesial and distal-vestibular angles were defined on each right upper incisor, and the following segments were defined: AB (zenith - incisal edge), CD, EF, GH (apical, middle, and incisal thirds - vestibule - mesial and vestibule-distal angles) and their lengths were determined with a precision caliper. Then, the CD/AB, EF/AB and mean CD-EF/AB ratios were calculated. Shapes were assessed by four independent observers, three of whom evaluated digital images of the models, while the fourth had no access to the images, and determined the shapes using an algorithm developed from the dimensions of the studied segments. Rates and confidence intervals were determined, and Fleiss' Kappa was calculated to assess the agreement among the evaluators who worked with the images and among all of them. Average incisor length was 10 mm, and widths at CD and EF were 7.35 mm (0.65) and 8.27 mm (0.58), respectively. Regarding shapes, 51.58% (47.90-55.20) of the incisors were identified as square, 18.02% (14.50-21.90) as ovoid and 30.41% (30.00-30.90) as triangular. Fleiss' Kappa agreement was 0.71 (0.62-0.80). The application of the proposed algorithm provided a considerable level of agreement among the observers. Regarding tooth size, both the average segment length and the proportions were similar to those reported by various authors.