A STUDY ON THE SELECTION OF ARTIFICIAL TEETH FOR THE EDENTULOUS PATIENTS IN KOREANS

한국인 무치악환자의 인공치아선택방법에 관한 연구

An esthetically pleasing result in denture service is dependent upon several consideration. Esthetic considerations for the edentulous patient include tooth size, shape, arrangement, positioning, gingival contour, age, sex, personality differences, and ethnic type. Especially, the form of anterior artificial teeth is an important factor on the esthetics. The selection of artificaial teeth requires understanding and knowledge on physical and biologic factors and has to meet the indivisul esthetics and functional needs of each patient. However, the selection of artificial teeth is based on the large degree of subjective judgement of the dentist, Therefore, this is one of the most unscientific processes. Many attempts have been made to find a guideline for the selection of artificial teeth. Temperamental theory by White and Hall utillized with the physical characteristics such as body size, body form, color of eyes and hair, and disposition. SPA theory by Frush and Fisher utilized with the basis of sex, personalities, and age of the indivisual. There has not been provided for a guideline and study on the selection of artificial teeth for Koreans yet. This study was aimed to evaluate the William's typal matching theory in Koreans. 1. The facial forms of korean adult were ovoid(46.3%), square(36.7%) and tapered(17.0%) form. 2. The anatomic forms of natural maxillary incisors were ovoid(45.3%), tapered(31.3%), square(23.3%) form. 3. The forms of face and natural maxillary incisors were ovoid(21.9%), squared(11%), tapered(6.3%). 4. The natural maxillary incisors were similar in form to the facial form only in 39%. There was no correlation between the form of the face and the form of natural maxillary central inisors in Koreans. 5. Artificaial teeth which was selected according to the typal matching theory did not represent the form of the natural teeth in 61 per cents of the fatal, but it felt that they harmonized with the form of the patient's face and produced good results.