Determination of intercanine distance from a proportion calculation: A pilot clinical study

The optimal positioning of artificial teeth is essential for long-term success when providing removable complete dentures. However, information about the original tooth positions may be lacking, especially the canine teeth, which play a key role in the tooth arrangement.

The purpose of this pilot clinical study was to determine if the mandibular and maxillary canine position can be determined by proportioning to certain anatomic landmarks.

Fifty participants (32 women, 18 men) with a mean age of 19.18 years and Angle class 1 and 2 malocclusions were selected randomly from patients who had completed their orthodontic treatment. The distance between the sagittally bisecting lines of the maxillary tuberosity and the distance between the sagittal bisecting lines of the retromolar pads in the mandible were measured from casts and recorded in millimeters. The expected distances between the canine cusps in both jaws (e-DCCmand and e-DCCmax) were calculated, and the distance between the canine cusps in both jaws (DCCmand and DCCmax) was measured. The measurements and the calculated expectation values for maxillary and mandibular cast models were recorded and statistically compared.

The mean ±standard deviation value of the maxillary intercanine distance was 35.5 ±1.4 mm, and the calculated value was 35.52 ±1.43 mm. In the mandible, the mean ±standard deviation value of the mandibular intercanine distance was 26.73 ±1.25 mm, and the calculated value was 26.69 ±1.33 mm. The difference between the means of expected DDC for the maxilla and mandible was within the equivalence interval (P<.001).

The proportions evaluated were determined to provide accurate canine positions and should be suitable for use in the treatment of edentulous patients.