title: Evaluation of distances between the mandibular teeth and the alveolar process in Brazilians with normal occlusion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aims of this study were to evaluate the distances between the mandibular permanent teeth and the alveolar process in Brazilians with normal occlusion and to compare them with normal American values.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used 59 mandibular casts from untreated subjects who had permanent dentition and the 6 keys to normal occlusion. A computer program was used to calculate the distances between the dental reference points and the alveolar process for each tooth. The mean values were then compared to the normal values by applying the Student t test at a significance level of 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed a progressive increase of these distances from the anterior region (incisors) to the posterior region (molars), from 0.00 to 2.49 mm. All measurements had statistically significant differences from the American sample, except for the values for canines and first premolars.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Brazilians with normal occlusion have more lingual crown positions for the incisors, second premolars, and molars compared with Americans with normal occlusion. Although these findings were statistically significant, they are unlikely to be clinically significant.
authors.affiliation: Methodist University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. tarcilatrivino@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Tarcila
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Triviño
authors.forename: Danilo Furquim
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Siqueira
authors.forename: Will A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Andrews
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003724:Dental Arch / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D019229:Dentition, Permanent; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D003765:Models, Dental; D009811:Odontometry; D012016:Reference Values; D014070:Tooth / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D019228:Tooth Crown / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D014481:United States; D014716:Vertical Dimension; D055815:Young Adult