Tooth form assessment in the aesthetic zone of the maxilla

Abstract

Introduction: The accurate assessment of tooth form and gingival phenotype in the aesthetic zone of maxilla is of great importance for the correct preoperative planning in dental practice. Determining the tooth form as a key factor helps the clinicians in assessing the aesthetic risk in periodontal, restorative and implant therapy. Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of rectangular and triangular tooth form in the aesthetic zone of the maxilla and also to generalize the variations in this prevalence between males and females in the Bulgarian population. Materials and Methods: The tooth form in the aesthetic zone of maxilla is assessed in 223 individuals and determined according to four anatomic criteria: width and position of the interdental contact point, CW/CL ratio, height of interdental papillae, and the scallop of gingival margin. Results: The analysis of the results shows that the rectangular tooth form is more prevalent (70%) compared to the triangular tooth form (30%), and the triangular tooth form is more prevalent in males (32%) than in females (29%). Discussion: With regard to the tooth form in approximately 70% of the cases (prevalence of a square/rectangular tooth form) we can expect to have a lower aesthetic risk in the preoperative planning of implant therapy in the aesthetic zone of the maxilla. Conclusion: More prevalent in the study group is the rectangular/square tooth form (70%) compared to the triangular tooth form (30%) with a ratio of 2.33:1.