Relation between the facial contour form, the dental arches and the upper central incisors shape in dental students from Universidad del Valle - Cali

Abstract

SUMMARY
Objective: To determine the relationship if
any between the facial contour, the form of
the dental arches and the morphology of the
upper central incisors in dental students of
the University del Valle.
Methods: This is an observational descriptive
study that determined the relation
between the facial contour, the dental
arches and the upper central incisors
shapes through digital photographs in 48
dental students (24 women and 24 men) at
University del Valle belonging to a mixed
ethnic group predominantly Caucasoid. The
coefficient of contingency was used to establish
the possible association between the
forms of the face, the dental arches and the
central incisors. A p<0.05 was considered
statistically significant.
Results: The oval form was the most
frequent facial contour (50%), including
the upper (77,1%) and lower dental arch
(85,4%) and the upper right central incisor
(41,7%) were also prevalent. By gender,
the facial contour presented significant
differences, given that in women was more
prevalent the round shape (29,2%) while in
men it was the square form (37,5%); nevertheless
the oval form was present in the
majority of cases in both male and female.
Conclusions: The oval form was the most
frequent facial contour, dental arches and
the upper central incisors form. It was
not possible to determine the form of the
permanent upper central incisors using
the facial contour type or the form of the
dental arches.
Keywords: Forensic dentistry, dental identification,
facial contour, dental arch, upper
central incisors shape.