Using a digital platform to establish odontometric variation based on race, gender and Angle classification

Orthodontists often encounter significant clinical challenges in the finishing stages of treatment due to a disproportion in interarch tooth size relationships. Despite the increasing presence of digital technology and concomitant focus on customized treatment approaches, there is a gap in the knowledge of how generating tooth size data using digital versus traditional methods may impact our treatment regime.

This study aimed to compare the prevalence of tooth size discrepancies using digital models and a digitally based cast analysis in our cohort based on (i) Angle's Classification; (ii) gender and (iii) race.

The mesiodistal widths of teeth in 101 digital models were assessed using computerized odontometric software. A Chi-square test was used to determine the prevalence of tooth size disproportions among the study groups. The differences between all three groups of the cohort were analysed using a three-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).

An overall Bolton tooth size discrepancy (TSD) prevalence of 36.6% was observed in our study cohort; 26.7% had an anterior Bolton TSD. No differences existed in the prevalence of tooth size discrepancies between male and female subjects as well as between the different malocclusion groups (P > .05). Caucasian subjects had a statistically significant smaller prevalence of TSD compared to Black and Hispanic patients (P < .05).

The prevalence results in this study illuminate how relatively common TSD is and underscores the importance of proper diagnosis. Our findings also suggest that racial background may be an influential factor in the presence of TSD.