The use of the incisive papilla as an important guide for setting maxillary teeth has been applied in prosthetic dentistry. The purpose of this study was to estimate the relationship between maxillary anterior teeth and the incisive papilla of young adults with approximately optimal occlusion in Taiwan. Study casts of 100 young adults (50 males, 50 females; mean age, 22.4 years) were selected in this study. All of the marked points on maxillary casts were measured using a three-dimensional precise measuring device. The relative positions of maxillary teeth landmarks to incisive papilla were measured and analyzed using SAS software (JMP 4.02). Student's t test and Pearson's correlation test were used to test the statistical significance of any differences (p < 0.05). The results showed that the mesiolabial incisal edge of the upper central incisor was 7.30 +/- 0.64 mm anterior to the center of the incisive papilla. There was no significant difference in gender (p > 0.05). The intercanine line was 0.27 +/- 1.30 mm posterior to the center of incisive papilla. There was no significant difference in gender (p > 0.05). The horizontal distances of the mesiolabial incisal edge of the upper central incisor and the intercanine line to the center of the incisive papilla showed only weak correlation (r < 0.5). In addition, the three-dimensional relationship of maxillary anterior teeth to the center of the incisive papilla was measured and analyzed. We suggest using the incisive papilla as a reference landmark for the setting of maxillary anterior teeth.