Advisory Committee Chair
Nada M Souccar
Advisory Committee Members
David M Sarver
Jack E Lemons
Christos Vlachos
Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
2019
Degree Name by School
Master of Science (MS) School of Dentistry
Abstract
Introduction: Tooth agenesis is defined as the lack of development of a tooth. Maxillary lateral incisors have been reported to be missing in 2.2% of the population in the United States of America. Two treatment options are available: opening the space to restore the missing tooth with a dental prosthesis; or close the space by moving the adjacent teeth into the space and substituting the missing lateral incisor with the maxillary canine. With a wider crown and a more convex labial surface than lateral incisors, canines require a significant amount of reduction in order to achieve an adequate occlusion and acceptable esthetics. Nonetheless, evidence is lacking on how much enamel removal is considered safe. Aims: (1) Evaluate the enamel thickness of permanent maxillary canines three- dimensionally, and their relationship to crown size; (2) Establish a guideline for the amount of reshaping permanent maxillary canines can withstand when substituting absent maxillary lateral incisors; (3) Compare measurements of enamel thickness taken with a cone beam computed tomogram versus measurements taken under a digital microscope. Materials and Methods: Measurements of enamel thickness were taken in cone beam computed tomograms (CBCT) and compared to measurements taken under a digital microscope to measure agreement between the two techniques, since accuracy of microscopy is far superior than that provided by CBCTs. Tooth crown size was measured in CBCT and clinically with a digital caliper to evaluate if there is any relationship between crown size and enamel thickness. Conclusion: There is no statistically significant difference between measurements taken with the CBCT, digital caliper, and digital microscope. There is enough enamel thickness on maxillary canines to achieve ideal proportions mesio-distally, but caution should be taken when recontouring the labial surface and the area of the cingulum. There is a positive, although not statistically significant, correlation between canine crown size and enamel thickness.
Recommended Citation
Diaz Rubayo, Daniel, "A study of enamel thickness of permanent maxillary canines" (2019). All ETDs from UAB. 1518.
https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/1518