Background: Selection and arrangement of the maxillary anterior teeth has always been most important as well as challenging for the edentulous patients. It demands rehabilitation of the functions with the aesthetics as priority.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the relation between interalar widths and inter canine distance in aid for the replacement of artificial maxillary anterior teeth. This study also assessed the relation of inter alar distance and inter canine distance in different population such as Aryans and Mongoloids.

Materials and Methods: To study the relation between interalarwidth and inter canine distance, measurements were taken from 228 subjects. Inter alar width was recorded by digital vernier caliper while the patient made seated on dental chair in a relaxed posture. Inter canine width was measured in the cast with digital vernier caliper.

Result: out of 228 participants Gender distribution was 118 males and 110 females where 84 were Mongoloids and 144 were Aryans whose age ranged from 25 to 45 years. This result showed that the males have greater interalar width and inter canine width in compared to females (male: 32.64 ±4.3, female: 30.64± 3.55) and is statistically significant (p <0.05).The mean value of inter alar width and intercanine width was also determined. Mongoloids have wider nose and increased intercanine width than Aryan but not statistically significant. The Pearsons coefficient index “r” showed a large positive correlation between interalar distance and intercanine width and was statistically significant. (r=0.642, p<0.01)

Conclusion: The study concluded that inter alar width can be a very useful guideline for the selection and replacement of anterior teeth for edentulous patients in Mongoloid and Aryan population.

Keywords: Anterior teeth selection, Inter alar width, Inter canine distance, Maxillary anterior teeth.

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Dr Suvit Maskey

Principal Investigator, Department of Dentistry, Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu, Nepal