The relationship of maxillary canines to the facial anatomical landmarks in a group of Thai people

PURPOSE: The objective was to evaluate canine positions, intercanine tip width (ICTW) and width of distal surface of canine (WDC), related to facial landmarks including interalar width (IAW), intercommissural width (ICoW), and distance between left and right projection lines drawn from inner canthus of eyes to alae of the nose (DPICa) in a group of Thai. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred Thai subjects aged 18-35 years were selected. IAW and ICoW were measured on subject's face using digital vernier caliper. Irreversible hydrocolloid impression of the upper arch was taken, and a cast was poured with dental stone. Silicone impression material was used to take imprint of the incisal edge of upper six anterior teeth. DPICa was obtained from the subject's face using custom-made measuring equipment and marked on the silicone incisal imprint. The marks were then transferred from the imprint to the stone cast and measured with digital caliper. The ICTW and WDC were also measured on the stone cast. Pearson's correlation was used to determine the correlation. RESULTS: The results revealed that the correlation between ICTW-ICoW was 0.429 and ICTW-DPICa was 0.573. The correlation between WDC-ICoW was 0.426 and WDC-DPICa was 0.547. However, IAW did not show any correlation with ICTW or WDC (P>.05). CONCLUSION: The correlation between canine position and facial landmarks was found. ICTW and WDC had relationship with ICoW and DPICa. DPICa showed stronger correlation with the position of maxillary canine than that of ICoW.