The Role of the Interalar Width in the Anterior Teeth Selection

The objective of the present study was to determine the correlation between the interalar width and the combined mesiodistal width of maxillary six-anterior teeth in Pakistani population. It was a cross sectional study and was carried out from May 2011 to November 2011. A total of 159 dentate subjects fulfilling the inclusion criteria were selected from the department of Prosthodontics, Lahore Medical and Dental College, Lahore. The demographic information like age and sex were recorded and the informed consent was taken. The patients were seated at upright position and asked to look straight. The interalar width was determined by measuring the external width of the alae of the nose at the widest point by using a digital caliper. With subject in a relaxed position, the recording part of the caliper was brought in contact with the outer surface of both alae without applying pressure. The inter canine width was measured from the maxillary stone cast with the help of dental floss, placed at the greatest curvature of the maxillary arch. The distal surfaces of both the maxillary canines were marked on the maxillary cast. The dental floss was sectioned and made straight .The digital caliper was used to measure the distance between the marks. Both the parameters were recorded three times by the single person to ensure the accuracy and the mean was taken. The measurements were recorded in a Proforma . The statistical results of this study have shown that there is no correlation between the interalar width and the combined mesiodistal width of maxillary anterior teeth.It was concluded that the interalar width is not a reliable predictor for the selection of the width of maxillary anterior teeth in the edentulous patients in Pakistani population.