Morphometrics of Permanent Dentition in Chennai Population

Abstract

As compared to other ethnic groups relatively few measurements on tooth size have been made on Indian population. Hence, a study was carried out in Department of Orthodontics, Saveetha Dental College, Chennai, to discern the average clinical crown dimensions for cervico- incisal heights (CIH) and mesiodistal widths (MDW), permanent dentition for the local population, to find out the amount of variation in CIH and MDW between males and females, between right and left sides and tooth showing maximum and minimum variation. The study was carried out on study models of 100 patients who visited the OPD of the above college, and measurements were done using Digital Vernier calipers. The results showed that CIH and MDW are generally larger for male teeth compared to female and left side 2nd molars showed clinically significant variation in CIH. The study also showed that in both sexes and arches maximum variation in CIH was for central incisor and minimum for 2nd molar. In MDW, maximum variation is for 2nd molar and minimum for 2nd premolars in both arches. The study is helpful in establishling Bolton's standards for assessing tooth size discrepancy and also in application of mixed dentition model analysis and bracket positioning chart for preadjusted edgewise appliance for the local population.