Journal of Dental Medicine

Background and Aims: Since there is a relationship between the tooth size and race, it seems that having statistical information about the tooth size in a society in which the orthodontic treatments are done, is very important. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the mesiodistal width of permanent incisors and first molars in both jaws with unerrupted permanent canine and premolars. New regression equations for prediction of the sum of mesiodistal width of canine and premolars were established.

Materials and Methods: A total of 715 dental casts (526 female, 189 male) were recruited from the department of orthodontics of Shiraz dental school and private offices of orthodontists for this cross sectional study. The greatest mesiodistal widths of all teeth were measured with digital caliper with accuracy of 0.01 mm. All data were analyzed with SPSS software and Pearson Correlation, independent T-test, paired sample T-test and multiple linear regression tests.

Results: Tanaka-Johnston equations and Moyer’s prediction tables had significant difference with mesiodistal dental width of south Iranian population, so new regression equations (based on incisors and first molars) for different jaws and sexes were presented in this study for south Iranian population. The best suggested regression is the regression that is based on all maxillary and mandibular incisors and first molars and has 12 variables. The suggested regression for prediction of maxillary canine and premolars based on the summation of mesiodistal width of all incisors and first molars in both jaws was Y=0.177X+4.227 and for prediction of mandibular canine and premolars was Y=0.188X+2.730, which a the greatest in r2 prediction of unerrupted teeth in comparison with the regressions based on incisors alone or incisors and first molars in one jaw.

Conclusion: Tanaka-Johnston and Moyer’s prediction tables are overestimated the actual size of south Iranian’s teeth width. So new regression equations based on incisors alone and incisors and first molars are suggested to increase the accuracy of space analysis in both jaws.