Prediction of the mesiodistal width of unerupted permanent canines and premolars: a statistical approach

Prediction of the mesiodistal width of unerupted permanent canines and premolars is of major interest for orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning.

To improve the accuracy of the prediction, we looked for the best combination of independent variables with multiple linear regression.

The most accurate prediction was obtained for the combination of the mandibular right first molar and lateral incisor, and the maxillary left central incisor. Adding to the regression equation 1 erupted canine or premolar improved the accuracy of the prediction considerably. Because of the variable character of the eruption sequence during the second transitional period, a separate regression model for every canine or premolar was necessary. The precision of our new method and other methods from the literature was tested in a separate study group.

The results of this study show that our prediction method of the mesiodistal crown diameters of unerupted canines and premolars during the dental transition is accurate. A computer program was developed for user-friendly clinical application.