Determination of the relationship between tooth dimensions and face ratios of individuals in turkish society

Aim: The objective of this study was to comprehensively evaluate the relationship between tooth dimensions and facial proportions in the Turkish population. It aimed to determine the correlations between tooth dimensions and certain facial measurements, such as orbital width, nasal width, maxillary width, and intermolar distance. In this way, it intended to provide data that could assist clinicians in making decisions about interdental reduction, restorative procedures, or other interventions that may be necessary to achieve ideal aesthetic harmony between dental and facial characteristics. Material and Method: The study was conducted retrospectively on intraoral scans and extraoral radiographs obtained from individuals undergoing orthodontic treatment at the Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Ordu University, between January 2018 and July 2024. The inclusion criteria consisted of individuals who had never received orthodontic treatment before, had no restorations, caries, or dental anomalies, and had a balanced facial appearance. Digital intraoral scans were performed using a 3Shape TRIOS 3 scanner, and measurements were analyzed using Orthoanalyzer software. Cephalometric and anteroposterior radiographs were used to assess facial proportions. Statistical analyses were performed using the NCSS 2007 software, with One-Way ANOVA used for group comparisons and Pearson correlation tests applied to evaluate relationships between variables; significance levels were set at p<0.01 and p<0.05. Results: The study included data obtained from a total of 304 individuals, consisting of 136 males and 168 females with a mean age of 18.31 years. Detailed demographic and morphometric data, such as mandibular width, maxillary width, facial width, intermolar distance, and nasal width, were collected. The results showed that there was no statistically significant difference in tooth dimensions between different skeletal classes as defined by ANB angles. However, the analyses demonstrated certain tendencies in the relationships between various facial measurements and tooth dimensions, providing evidence that facial morphology may have an effect on dental structures. These findings emphasized the complexity of the relationship between facial and dental aesthetics and suggested that facial proportions could have a certain influence on tooth dimensions, although this effect was not homogeneous across different skeletal classes. Conclusions: This study has made significant contributions to understanding the relationship between dental and facial structures in the Turkish population. It has revealed that facial measurements may influence tooth dimensions; however, these effects are not consistent across all skeletal classifications. Furthermore, the data obtained have provided a scientific basis for the potential use of newly developed indices such as the Abay ratio in clinical practice. The results may serve as a critical reference point for clinicians, guiding them in planning orthodontic and restorative treatments to achieve optimal aesthetic outcomes that are harmonious with both the dental and facial characteristics of their patients. Keywords: Abay Ratio, Tooth dimensions, Tooth morphology, Aesthetic harmony, Skeletal classification, Facial proportions