Comparison of Anterior Tooth Width in Natural and Artificial Dentitions

Abstract

Purpose This study characterizes the distribution of the mesiodistal widths of maxillary anterior natural teeth for comparison with the widths of the most commonly used artificial denture teeth. Materials and Methods The width of the six maxillary anterior teeth was measured on a curve defined by the facial surfaces of the teeth. Four hundred fifty-one casts of completed orthodontic patients (154 men and 297 women) were measured separately by gender. The width of the maxillary anterior natural teeth was compared to that of artificial denture teeth (Bioblend, Dentsply International, York, PA). Results The mean ± standard deviation (SD) width of the six anterior teeth for men and women (55.6 ± 3.1 mm and 53.6 ± 3.0 mm, respectively) differed significantly (P < .05). The mode (most frequent size) was 55 mm for both men and women; however, 40% of the women and 67% of men had anterior teeth that measured 55 mm or wider. In contrast, the mean width of the most widely distributed artificial maxillary denture teeth (Bioblend) is 50.1 mm, with a range of 44 to 58 mm. Of the 42 molds available, only 5 have a width of 55 mm or greater. Conclusions These findings suggest that one reason for the inappropriate selection of comparatively small maxillary denture teeth is the lack of physiologically sized tooth molds.