The Incisive Papilla as a Guide for Anterior Teeth Arrangement

Introduction: The positional relationship of the incisive papilla to the natural anterior teeth presents, on the basis of Caucasian norms, a simple and valuable diagnostic data for the preliminary location of artificial anterior teeth. Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of the incisive papilla to the anteroposterior position of anterior teeth in a sample of Sudanese population. Methods: 100 maxillary casts of Sudanese dental students in Khartoum University were examined. Age ranged from 17-25 years.  The distances from the labial surface of the central incisor to the center and posterior point of the incisive papilla were measured. The distance between the canine cusp tips was also measured. The area on the incisive papilla where the intercanine line passed was indicated. Prior to measuring, a dental surveyor was modified to standardize the positions of the casts. The occlusal plane was the reference plane. The surveyor was also used to control an electronic measuring device. Results: The data obtained suggested an average distance of 12.4 mm from the labial convexity of central incisor to the posterior point of the incisive papilla. When the center of the papilla was used as the reference point, the average distance was 8.93 mm. The average distance of the intercanine line joining the canine cusp tips was 34.56 mm. This line passes through an average distance of 0.5 mm from the center of the incisive papilla in the total sample measured. The average length of the anterior arc, representing mesiodistal width from mid canine to mid canine, was 40.39mm.  Conclusion: these results suggested that there is a constant relationship between maxillary central incisors canines and the incisive papilla aiding in their anteroposterior positioning. Sex factor did not affect the measurements. Furthermore, these measurements showed insignificant differences to those done on other ethnic groups.