SIGNIFICANCE OF INTERCOMMISSURAL WIDTH AND ANTERIOR TEETHSELECTION

ABSTRACT The objective of the present study was to determine the correlation between the intercommissural width and the combined mesiodistal width of maxillary six-anterior teeth in the study. It was a cross sectional study and was carried out from Aug 2011 to Jan 2012. Non-probability purposive sampling. The present study included 159 dentate subjects having Angle’s class I molar and canine relationships. The patients were selected from the department of Prosthodontics, Lahore Medical and Dental College, Lahore. The subjects with history of orthodontic treatment, extractions, drifting and attrition of the teeth were excluded. All those subjects having any restoration in upper anterior segment, any facial deformity, crowding or spacing of anterior teeth were also not included. The informed consent was obtained. The patients were seated in the upright position and were asked to look straight. Before the measurement of intercommissural width subjects were asked to widely open and close the mouth several times. It was done to fatigue the muscles and to relax them during the measurement. The distance between the left and right commisures of mouth were measured using digital caliper. The casts of maxillary arches were used to measure the intercanine width. The distal margin of both the maxillary canines were marked on each sides of the maxillary cast. A dental floss was placed at the greatest curvature of the maxillary arch and was marked at the distal margin of the canines. The dental floss was sectioned at the markings and the distance was measured between the marks using digital caliper. Both the parameters were measured three times by the single person to ensure the accuracy and the mean was taken. The measurements were recorded in a Proforma. The statistical results of this study showed that there was no correlation between the intercommissural width and the combined mesiodistal width of maxillary anterior teeth. It was concluded that the intercommissural width was not a good predictor for the selection of maxillary anterior teeth width for edentulous patients in the study group.