engleski

Artificial tooth selection: Could digital photographs be helpful?

Introduction: Digital photography is almost available to everybody. Proper artificial tooth selection is very important for aesthetic consideration of prosthetic appliance. Aim of this study: was to examine possibility of calculating the width of a missing central incisor using digital photographs as well as to determine best camera-object distance on accuracy of the calculated tooth dimension. Materials and methods: Digital photographs were obtained from 51 dentate subjects using a 3.1 Mega pixel digital camera from various distances: 35 cm, 70 cm, 1 m and 1.5 m. For the calculation of the width of maxillary left central incisor (MLI), the following equation was used: MLI(calculated) = Photographic width of MLI x IPD / photographic IPD. Statistical analysis was made (Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, dependent sample t-test, correlation and frequencies) using SPSS 10.0 for Windows. Results: Results revealed no significant difference between the calculated MLI (70 cm, 1 m and 1.5 m distance) and actual MLI. Calculated MLI from 35 cm distance was significantly different from the actual MLI value (p < 0.01). The highest correlation was between calculated MLI (70 cm distance) and actual MLI. However, the highest percentage of results from a distance of 70 cm also fitted within +/- 0.3 mm ; +/- 0.5 mm and +/- 1 mm difference from the actual MLI values. However, the results obtained from 1 m distance were also satisfactory. The technique of use of digital photography is of proven value in calculating the width of a maxillary central incisor. Conclusion: The photographs using a simple digital camera should be taken from a distance from 70 cm to 1 m. Digital photographs in a dental office may be helpful for calculating dimensions of artificial teeth in possible future reconstructive treatment.

artificial tooth selection; digital photograph; maxillary central incisor width

nije evidentirano