Artificial Tooth Selection Using Proportions of Maxillary Frontal Teeth?

Objectives: Various methods proposed for artificial teeth selection focus mainly on their shape and colour. However, relationships between widths of maxillary frontal teeth and width to length (W-L) proportion of each tooth have not been entirely described. Therefore the aim was to examine proportional relationships of maxillary frontal teeth and to compare calculated proportions with W-L proportion of a hard palate, with the Golden Proportion (61.8%) and with the 75% proportion. Methods: Eighty dentate students participated. Measurements were made on maxillary casts poured in a hard stone. The widths at the contact point level of maxillary frontal teeth and the length (height) of their clinical crowns were measured with a calliper (0.01 mm precision). Hamular width and the distance between the centre of the incisive papilla and fovea palatine were measured on the hard palate. W-L proportions were calculated for each tooth and a hard palate and tooth to tooth proportions were calculated as well. T test was used to reveal the significance of the differences between proportions. Results: Results revealed significant differences between W-L proportions of each maxillary frontal tooth and that of a hard palate; between W-L proportions of maxillary frontal teeth and the Golden Proportion (61.8%) as well as the 75% proportion (p<0.05). The W-L proportion of maxillary central incisor was 91%, W-L proportion of maxillary lateral incisor was 82 %, and W-L proportion of maxillary canine was 94%. Proportions between the widths of maxillary frontal teeth (tooth-to-tooth width proportion) varied from 78% to 91% and were significantly different from the Golden Proportion (p<0.05). Conclusion: W-L proportion of the hard palate, Golden Proportion and 75% proportion could not be considered as a suitable guide for selection of maxillary frontal teeth. Proportions calculated in this study might be helpful in clinical practice.