Intermaxillary tooth size discrepancy and mesiodistal crown dimensions for a Turkish population

Area of Science:

• Dental Anthropology
• Orthodontics
• Craniofacial Research

Background:

• Understanding tooth size and ratios is crucial for diagnosing and treating malocclusions.
• Existing analyses, like the Bolton analysis, provide reference standards but may not be universally applicable across diverse populations.
• Investigating population-specific dental measurements is essential for refining orthodontic practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine individual permanent tooth sizes and tooth-size ratios in a Turkish population.
• To identify sex differences in these dental variables.
• To compare the findings with the established Bolton analysis standards.

Main Methods:

• Dental casts from 150 Turkish subjects (72 males, 78 females) with normal occlusions were analyzed.
• Mesiodistal dimensions of individual teeth and tooth-size ratios (overall and anterior) were calculated for both sexes.
• Independent samples t-test was used to assess sex differences in intermaxillary tooth size discrepancies.

Main Results:

• Maxillary teeth exhibited greater mesiodistal dimension variability than mandibular teeth, with first molars showing the highest variability.
• The mean overall ratio was 89.88 ± 2.29, and the mean anterior ratio was 78.26 ± 2.61.
• A statistically significant sex difference was observed in the overall ratio (P < .001). Discrepancies with Bolton's standards were noted in 18% (overall) and 21.3% (anterior) of the sample.

Conclusions:

• Population-specific standards for tooth size and ratios are necessary for accurate clinical assessments in orthodontics.
• The Bolton analysis standards do not accurately represent the Turkish population.
• Utilizing Turkish-specific norms is recommended for orthodontic treatment planning in Turkish patients.