Evaluation of buccolingual inclination of posterior teeth in different facial patterns using computed tomography

Buccolingual inclination of teeth is an essential factor in establishing good occlusion. The objective of this study was to evaluate the buccolingual inclination of molar teeth in different vertical skeletal patterns by using computed tomography scans.

Coronal section of the jaws obtained from computed tomograms were used to measure the buccolingual inclination of the long axis of the molars relative to their skeletal base. Forty male adult individuals with class I dental occlusion were selected. They were classified as short (Group 1), average (Group II), and long faced (Group III) as per their skeletal patterns measured by GoGn-SN, FH-MP, Y-axis and facial height index in cephalograms.

ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests were applied to calculate if there were any significant differences in the mean molar inclination between the groups. Pearson's coefficients of correlation were calculated between the facial parameters and tooth inclination.

The differences in the mean molar inclination between the short, average, and long faced groups is significant for mandibular 1 st and 2 nd molars and maxillary 2 nd molars.

Variations in mean molar inclination values are observed between short, average, and long faced groups.