ASSESSMENT OF THE RELATIONSHIP OF INNER-CANTHAL DISTANCE AND INTERALAR WIDTH TO THE INTER-CANINE WIDTH AMONGST THE POPULATION OF Chitwan

Abstract

Background: There are many techniques and methods for estimating the maxillary anterior teeth in edentulous patient. Inner-canthal and inter- alar width are one of the methods to establish inter-canine width. The objective of our study is to assess the relation of inner-canthal distance and inter-alar width with inter-canine width and canine-to-canine distance.

Methods: Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, 161 participants were selected. Four parameters, Inner-Canthal Distance, Inter-Alar Width, Inter-Canine Width and Canine tip to Canine tip were measured using digital Vernier caliper. Data entry was done in Microsoft Excel and data analysis on SPSS 21. Descriptive statistics and independent t-test were used. The Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to find association between continuous variables like Inner-Canthal Distance and Inter-Alar Width with Inter-Canine Width and Canine tip to Canine tip width.

Results: Strong positive correlation was found between Inner-Canthal Distance and Canine tip to Canine tip (+0.065) among males. the multiplying factor of Inter-Alar Width and Inner-Canthal Distance was 1.002 to obtain Inter-Canine Width. Similarly, the multiplying factor of Inter-Alar Width was 1.006 and Inner-Canthal Distance was 1.003 to obtain Canine tip to Canine tip. Moderate positive correlation was found between inner canthal distance and canine tip to canine tip among Mongolians and weak positive correlation among Aryans.

Conclusions: Study showed that Inner-Canthal Distance and Inter-Alar width can be used to determine combined width of maxillary anterior teeth and tip of canine-to-canine distance in absence of pre-extraction records during complete denture fabrication.