NATURAL MAXILLARY ANTERIOR TOOTH PROPORTIONS ACROSS FACIAL FORMS: AN EVALUATION OF GOLDEN AND RED RELATIONSHIPS IN A POPULATION FROM NTR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH
Abstract
Background: Mathematical proportions have been proposed as aids for anterior dental esthetics, particularly the golden proportion and the recurring esthetic dental (RED) proportion. Their applicability to natural dentition may vary with facial form and population characteristics. Objectives: To investigate the existence and accuracy of golden and RED proportions between the widths of maxillary anterior teeth in individuals with natural dentition presenting with square, ovoid, and tapering facial forms; to determine anterior tooth width relationships with these proportions; and to assess the influence of facial form on anterior tooth proportions. Methods: Standardized frontal smile photographs were obtained from 60 female volunteers aged 18–23 years after screening 200 students. Participants were classified into square, tapering, and ovoid facial forms using the Trubyte Tooth Indicator, with 20 subjects in each group. Mesiodistal widths of the right maxillary central incisor, lateral incisor, and canine were measured using Adobe Photoshop 7.0. Golden-proportion calculations used a 62% successive-width relationship, while RED proportions were calculated as lateral/central and canine/lateral percentages. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation. Results: Calculated widths based on the 62% golden proportion were significantly lower than actual lateral-incisor and canine widths in all facial-form groups. No significant difference among facial forms was observed for the RED ratios. Significant correlations between calculated and actual widths were observed only in the ovoid group for the lateral incisor (r=0.685, p=0.001) and canine (r=0.483, p=0.031). Conclusion: A strict golden proportion and a constant RED relationship were not demonstrated in the natural maxillary anterior dentition studied. Facial form did not significantly differentiate the measured proportions. Mathematical proportions may therefore be used as supplementary esthetic references rather than rigid standards.