Three-dimensional evaluations of the digital casts of morphologic maxillary teeth symmetry in patients with unilateral palatally displaced canines

Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2019 Mar;155(3):339-346. doi: 10.1016/j.ajodo.2018.04.026.

Abstract

Introduction: The goal of this study was to compare the size and morphologic symmetry of the maxillary teeth in subjects with and without unilateral palatally displaced canines (PDCs).

Methods: Plaster casts of 38 subjects (mean age 14.75 ± 0.95 y) with unilateral PDCs were selected (study group [SG]) and compared with casts from an age- and sex-matched control group (CG). Then dental casts of both groups were scanned into 3-dimensional (3D) models. Tooth sizes (mesiodistal [MD] and buccolingual [BL] widths and volumes) for SG and CG were measured. Afterward, 3D deviation analysis was carried out with the use of Geomagic Control X software. All of the data were normally distributed according to parametric tests.

Results: All of the maxillary tooth diameters were smaller in SG than in CG. Statistically significant differences (P ≤ 0.001) were obtained when comparing the widths and volumes of the PDC quadrant and the unaffected quadrant of the same patient. Morphologic tooth symmetry by surface-to-surface matching for SG (PDC side vs non-PDC side) and CG (right vs left quadrant) demonstrated significant (P ≤ 0.001) but small differences, except for the lateral upper incisors (71.27%).

Conclusions: Unlike control subjects, PDC patients showed high mismatching of lateral incisor crowns of ∼30%.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cuspid / anatomy & histology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional*
  • Incisor
  • Male
  • Models, Dental
  • Tooth Crown / anatomy & histology*
  • Tooth Eruption, Ectopic / diagnostic imaging*