Selecting maxillary anterior tooth width by measuring certain facial dimensions in the Kurdish population

Statement of problem. One of the most difficult aspects of complete denture fabrication is selecting appropriately sized maxillary anterior teeth that will harmonize with the face. There are no generally accepted or naturally observed principles to guide dentists in this selection. Purpose. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a relationship exists between various facial measurements and the different single or combined mesiodistal widths of maxillary anterior teeth in a Kurdish population. Material and methods. A total of 65 Kurdish dental students participated in this study. Two standardized digital photographs of the face (relaxed and smiling capture) were recorded. The interpupillary distance (IPD), inner canthal distance (ICD), interalar distance (IAD), and width of the 2 central incisors were determined by Image J software. The mesiodistal width and the combined straight-line width of the centrals, laterals, and canines were measured directly from the casts of the participants with digital calipers. A simple linear regression and the Pearson correlation coefficient were used to investigate the relationship between the particular facial measurement and the widths of the anterior teeth (alpha=.05). Results. Significant correlations existed between the IPD and different tooth measurements; the highest was with the mean width of the canines (r=0.55). The proposed proportion between the IPD and the central incisor width was 6.93. The golden proportion of the ICD to the width of the central incisors and of the IAD to the straight-line width of the 6 anterior teeth could be used as a dependent parameter in Kurdish men. Conclusions. The IPD can be used to predict the width of anterior teeth in both sexes. In men, the width of the central incisors may be estimated from the ICD and the straight-line width of the 6 anterior teeth from the IAD.