Abstract
Purpose
The influence of vertical deviations of the reference point from the facial axis (FA) point on crown inclination (CI) has not been fully clarified. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the tooth type with the largest adverse effect on CI.
Materials and methods
Forty dental casts of non-orthodontic normal occlusion were analysed with a laser scanning system. The clinical crown height (CCH) for each tooth was measured and divided into tenths. From 30% to 70% level of CCH were used to identify the reference points for CI. Cl at the FA point (CI50) and that measured at occlusally and gingivally deviated positions (CI40 and CI60, respectively) were measured using 10% of the CCH. CI40, CI50, and CI60 were compared by one-way ANOVA with post-hoc Tukey’s test. Changes from CI50 to CI40 (CI50–40) and from CI60 to CI50 (CI60–50) were calculated and compared among teeth using two-way ANOVA with post-hoc Bonferroni correction.
Results
Significant differences were found among CI40, CI50, and CI60 for all teeth (P < 0.01 for all). The largest changes in CI at vertically deviated reference points were found at the second molar (7.22 ± 3.58°) for the maxillary arch and at the second premolar (5.25 ± 2.77°) for the mandibular arch.
Conclusion
Deviations within 10% of the CCH of the vertical reference point were found to have a significantly greater adverse effect on Cl for the maxillary second molar and mandibular second premolar than other teeth.
Acknowledgement
The authors would like to thank Mr. Mutsuji Muramoto of UNISN, Osaka, Japan, for providing technical support, maintenance, and advice regarding the VMS Dental Plaster Model Shape Scanning System used in this study.