Buccolingual inclination of first molars in untreated adults: A CBCT study

Objective: To evaluate the buccolingual inclinations of maxillary and mandibular first molars in untreated adults. Materials and Methods: Fifty-nine subjects (14 males and 45 females; mean age, 41.2 years) with no missing teeth, no crossbite, and minimal crowding were included. For each subject, a CBCT was taken. The long axis of each first molar was determined, and the inclination of each molar was measured using the long axis and the floor. Results: One hundred seventeen out of 118 mandibular first molars measured had a lingual inclination, with a mean of 12.59 degrees +/- 5.47 degrees. For the maxillary first molars, 107 out of 118 had a buccal inclination, with a mean of 4.85 degrees +/- 4.22 degrees. Conclusions: There is a curvature to the inclinations of first molars in untreated adults, where the maxillary molars have a slight buccal inclination and mandibular molars have a slight lingual inclination.