[Evaluation of the effect of maxillary anterior teeth morphology on torque using cone beam dental computed tomography].
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of labial surface contours and collum angles of the maxillary anterior teeth on torque.


METHODS
206 extracted maxillary teeth were selected, including 77 central incisors, 68 lateral incisors and 61 canines. All specimens were scanned by cone beam dental computed tomography (CT). Three-dimensional reconstructed images were made by using the CT software. The median sagittal planes of all teeth were selected and then analyzed by the Auto CAD software. For each tooth, the angles between tangent lines to the labial surface at four different heights along the surface and the longitudinal axis of the crown were measured. The collum angle was also measured.


RESULTS
Between 3.5 mm and 5.0 mm level of bracket heights, for the variation of 0.5 mm, the torque differed by 1.5 degrees for the maxillary central incisors and 2 degrees for the maxillary lateral incisors and canines. The mean collum angle values for the maxillary central incisors, lateral incisors and canines were 0.88 degree, 3.87 degrees and -3.30 degrees.


CONCLUSIONS
The biological variation in tooth morphology would influence the torque after orthodontic treatment in different ways.
Hu
Xiang-Quan
XQ
Dept. of Stomatology, Out-patient Department, Guangzhou Military Authorities, Guangzhou 510080, China.
Kong
Wei-Dong
WD
Cai
Bin
B
Chen
Min-Ying
MY
D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D003481:Cuspid; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor; D008437:Maxilla; D009811:Odontometry; D019228:Tooth Crown; D019415:Torque