Evaluation of anterior tooth size discrepancy in different dental malocclusion groups

Abstract

Introduction: The main goal of Orthodontic treatment is to achieve optimal occlusion. To achieve this goal maxillary and mandibular tooth should be proportional in size. Hence the purpose of the present study was to evaluate the anterior tooth size discrepancy in three dental malocclusion groups.

Material and Methods: It was a cross sectional study, which included 119 pretreatment casts (86 Male and 33 Female) of patients. Patients with fully erupted permanent anterior teeth in both arches were distributed into three dental malocclusion groups: Angle Class I(45), Class II(59) and Class III(15). The mesio-distal width of each tooth from right canine to left canine was calculated with a manual caliper on the study casts. Anterior tooth size (3-3) ratios were calculated by applying Bolton’s formula. To compare the mean anterior tooth size ratios among the three malocclusion groups, Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied.  The results of the test were considered significant at p≤ 0.05.

Results: The mean anterior tooth size ratios, in Class I patients were 1.34 mm, Class II patients were 1.39 mm and Class III patients were 1.91 mm. Comparison of anterior tooth size ratios among the three dental malocclusion groups showed insignificant difference (p=0.08). Comparison of anterior tooth size ratios between male and female patients in three malocclusion group were also found to be insignificant (p=0.06).

Conclusions: Comparison of mean anterior tooth size ratios among the three dental malocclusion classes revealed insignificant results.