The Relationships of the Maxillary Central Incisors and Canines to the Incisive Papilla in Jordanians

Abstract

The validity of the relationship between the maxillary anterior teeth and the incisive papilla and the pertinence of this relationship to Jordanians was examined. A computerized digital caliper (CDC) tool was developed and used in the measurements which were made on scanned images of dental casts of 298 Jordanians. The distances from a tangent to the labial surface of the central incisors to the midpoint and the posterior border of the incisive papilla were measured. The tool was also used in marking the exact point on the incisive papilla of the intersection with the line that connected the tips of the maxillary canines. The data sets were analyzed statistically and comparisons among various sets were drawn at a 95% confidence level. Gender had no significant effect on the relationship of the incisive papilla to the maxillary anterior teeth, whereas this relationship was significantly influenced by the incisal classifications of the examined subjects. Differences between the Jordanian scores and the Caucasian norms were insignificant. Therefore, the guidelines recommended for Caucasians could be used as starting points in the preliminary location of maxillary incisors and canine teeth during construction of dentures for Jordanians.