Evaluation of the relation of maxillary canine and edge of central incisor to incisive papilla in Indian population with respect to arch form.

Finding the most suitable position for artificial anterior teeth in the absence of pre-extraction records presents a new challenge with every denture and has resulted in a variety of measurements. It encompasses the knowledge of anatomy and physiology of oral tissue. In this study, the relation between anatomical landmarks the tips of the maxillary canines, edge of central incisor and center of incisive papilla was evaluated and compared with respect to arch form in Indian population. Arch forms were accessed by their morphological description as square, tapering or ovoid arch. Measurements on the casts were recorded for incisive papilla and maxillary central incisor distance, by digital vernier caliper and photographic technique was used to record the relation between tips of the canine and the centre of the incisive papilla. The mean distance between edge of central incisor to center of incisive papilla for square arch, oval arch and tapered arch was found as 9.667, 9.991 and 10.912 mm respectively. When all the 300 casts were taken together, it indicated that 51.3 % of intercanine lines passed through the center, 18.1 % of inter canine lines passed posterior and 30.6 % of the intercanine lines passed anterior to the center of incisive papilla. χ(2) (Chi square) values concluded they differ significantly and significant number of intercanine lines crossed through the center of the incisive papilla irrespective of the arch form.