Correlation between inner canthal width and the mesio-distal widths of the maxillary anterior teeth in a Kenyan population of African descent

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the inner canthal width and the mesio-distal widths of the maxillary anterior teeth in a Kenyan population of African descent.

Study design: Descriptive cross-sectional study

Setting: College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, Kenya.

Subjects: One hundred and forty six undergraduate and postgraduate students aged 18-30 years were recruited into the study. Data on inner canthal width (ICW) was obtained through direct measurements of the participants. The individual mesiodistal widths of the six maxillary anterior teeth were obtained from type IV gypsum product casts generated from irreversible hydrocolloid impressions of the maxillary arch. These were then summed up to obtain the combined mesio-distal widths of the anterior teeth (CMDWAT).All the measurements were obtained using an electronic digital caliper. These were then recorded on a data capturing sheet designed by the principal investigator.

Results: Out of the 146 participants, 78 (53.4%) were males while 68 (46.6%) were females. The overall mean inner canthal width was 34.27 ± 2.68mm with males having significantly higher mean values compared to the females ( 34.73 ± 2.69mm and 33.74 ± 2.58mm respectively), (t=2.27, p<0.05). The mean of the combined mesio-distal width of the anterior teeth (CMDWAT) was 47.68 ± 2.55mm with males having significantly higher mean values (48.12 ± 2.49mm) compared to the females (47.16 ± 2.55mm), (t=2.30, p<0.05). A statistically significant but weak positive correlation was found between the ICW and CMDWAT (r=0.17, r2=0.03, p<0.05).

Conclusion: The results from this study suggest a very weak positive correlation between ICW and the CMDWAT. The ICW was reliable in estimating the CMDWAT in only 3% of the population. Therefore, when used alone, the ICW may not be a reliable guide when used to estimate the CMDWAT in the population studied.