Comparison Between Human Maxillary Anterior Teeth and Commercial Acrylic Teeth: A Sex-Stratified Analysis

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was 1.To compare the total width of human anterior teeth from different races (White, black, and Asian) to the total width of commercially available anterior teeth molds and, 2. To compare the width and length of human central incisors (#9) from different races (White, black, and Asian) with those of commercially available central incisors (#9). Materials and Methods: The study consisted of 360 participants, with 60 females and 60 males in each of 3 racial groups: White, Black, and Asian. Metric measurements of natural teeth were obtained from dental casts, and those of acrylic teeth were obtained from company catalogs. Statistical Analysis: Data normality was determined by Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk tests. The Kruskal-Wallis and Dwass-Steel-Critchlow-Fligner post hoc tests were used to compare measurements across the racial groups and commercial acrylic teeth. P value of ≤ 0.05 was set as statistically significant. Results: The results showed significant intra- and intergroup differences between males and females and across the 3 racial groups, especially among the Black group. Significant differences were also detected between artificial and natural teeth dimensions. Conclusion: Although similarities exist, generally, the dimensions of commercially available artificial teeth are different than that of natural teeth in the studied populations. Overall, in both males and females, the median length of natural tooth #9 is always smaller when compared to commercially available teeth. In contrast, in both males and females, the median width of natural tooth #9 is always larger when compared to commercially available teeth, except for female Asian population. Overall, significant racial differences exist in the length, width, and total width of natural teeth compared to commercially available teeth in the Black population. However, both the white and asian population showed less significant differences when comparing the length, width, and total width of natural teeth to commercially available teeth.