Acceptable Deviation between Facial and Dental Midlines in Dentate Population

The success of the dental restorations largely depends on its esthetics, although various literature reviews recommend that anterior teeth midline be placed coinciding the facial midline, the amount of acceptable deviation between facial and dental midline has not been fully investigated. To observe the acceptable deviation between the dental and facial midline. Facial photographs of 200 students aged about 18-30 years of both sexes, without any missing teeth, with complete alignment of anterior teeth, were selected and scanned on to computer screen. Using specialized programme, the crown width of the central incisor in the mouth and on photograph was ensured constant. The distance between the facial midline, (obtained by bisecting intercanthal line) and the mesial surfaces of the central incisors were read on the computer. 44.4 % Boys and 55 % of Girls showed deviation between dental and facial midline in the range of 0-1 mm. while, 54 % of boys and 33 % of girls showed deviation of the dental and facial midline in the range 1-2 mm. 37 % of boys and 8 % of girls showed deviation of dental midline with facial midline with the range of 2-3 mm. 80 % of the study population showed maxillary and mandibular dental midlines never coincide. Majority of the study population showed deviation between facial midline and anterior teeth midline within the range of 0-1 mm.