TOOTH SIZE PREDICTION IN WHITE BRAZILIAN INDIVIDUALS: applicability of methods DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5892/ruvrd.v15i1.4200

Estimating the mesiodistal widths of unerupted permanent canines and premolars is an essential aspect of mixed dentition analysis that should be considered by dentists treating patients in this stage of developing occlusion. This study aims to evaluate the applicability and accuracy of three non-radiographic prediction methods (Moyers, Tanaka & Johnston and Bernabé & Flores-Mir) and propose new regression equations based on the sum of the widths of the lower four permanent incisors to predict the widths of lower permanent canines and premolars. The sample was consisted of 400 dental casts obtained from white Brazilian patients (200 male and 200 female). The results demonstrated that Moyers’ tables at 50th and 75th percentile levels tend to underestimate the actual sum of the widths of lower permanent canine and premolars for male and female samples, with statistical significant differences. Although the same statistical significant differences were found when Tanaka & Johnston’s and Bernabé & Flores-Mir’s methods were used, these differences were not clinically relevant (less than1 mm). The regression equations proposed in this study are a good prediction method to determine widths of the lower permanent canine and premolars