Treatment Planning for Tooth Size Discrepancy Utilizing A Graphical Template
H. Hopkins, EP Hicks, C Beeman
Objectives: Production of computer generated graphs which allow a clinician to plot the mesio-distal crown width of specific teeth in comparison to collected averages which are both race and gender specific. This allows precise identification of problem teeth leading to a tooth size discrepancy.
Methods: Graphical template created using Microsoft excel program. The mean mesio-distal width of each tooth is plotted on the graphs in a race and gender specific manner. Templates have been created for both genders for Caucasians, African Americans, and Hispanic Americans. A patient's mesio-distal widths from first molar to first molar in both arches can be plotted on this template; allowing for diagnosis of a tooth size discrepancy. Formulas have been programmed that calculate the exact millimeter amount of the patient's discrepancy.
Results: By plotting this information in a race and gender specific manner treatment plans can be customized appropriately for patients of different ethnicities. Traditionally a Bolton ratio is preformed to diagnose a tooth size discrepancy. This ratio only identifies which arch is at fault, not which teeth.
Conclusion: Plotting patient crown dimensions on these graphs will allow the clinician to visualize how the crown dimensions of individual teeth compare to the average in a race and gender specific manner. This can be useful when planning cosmetic restorations, implants, and during orthodontic treatment.