A NEW APPROACH FOR PLANNED UPPER INCISOR POSITION - AN OBSERVATIONAL PROSPECTIVE STUDY"

Abstract

Background: The profile of the patient is judged many a times by the position of the anterior teeth. Maxillary incisor labiolingual inclination and anteroposterior position play an essential role in the esthetics of the smiling profile. Hence the aim of the present study is to determine the planned incisor position in relation to the third palatal rugae an immutable landmark in the oral cavity Materials and methods: The study group consists of 80 participants consisting of 40 males and 40 females who satisfied the Andrew's six keys of occlusion. The impression of the upper dental arch was made using alginate impression material and the study casts were prepared with dental stone. The rugae pattern was marked on the study cast and the horizontal distance between the third palatal rugae to the incisal edge of upper incisor was measured using digital offset centerline Vernier caliper. The profile photograph of the participants was taken to verify skeletal class I relationship. The data collected were statistically analyzed using SPSS program. Results: The measured value between third rugae and incisal edge was 16-20 mm for females and 19-21mm for males. Therefore the planned incisor position for females is between 16-20 mm and 19-21mm for males. Conclusion: Knowing the ideal distance between the maxillary incisors and the third palatal rugae will help the orthodontist to plan the final anteroposterior position of the maxillary incisors during treatment.