Correlation of intercanine distance with bizygomatic width and intercanthal distance in Nigerian population

Background and aim: Some facial parameters may be used to determine the width of maxillary anterior teeth when there is no pre extraction record. The aim of this study was to find out if intercanine distance (ICD) has any correlation with bizygomatic width (BZW), inner intercanthal distance (IICW) and outer intercanthal distance (OICW) in our environment. Materials and Methods: The sample size was 348 (157 males and 191 females) and age range was from 18 to 28 years. The ICD, BZW, IICD and OICD were measured with a Venier caliper in millimeters. Means and standard deviations of parameters were obtained and comparison of means was done with t test. Correlation was done with Pearson correlation while p value was set at 0.05. Results: The values of BZW (male - 112.4 ± 9.6mm, female - 109.0 ± 8.2mm), IICW (male - 35.3 ± 3.1mm, female - 34.4 ± 5.4mm) OICW (male - 102.2 ± 7.9mm, female - 99.9 ± 6.0mm) and ICD (male - 42.9 ± 2.5mm, female - 41.3 ± 2.4mm) were significantly higher in males than females. Among males BZW, IICW and OICW had mild significant correlation with ICD. In females, BZW, IICW and OICW did not have any correlation with ICD. Conclusion: There was weak correlation between ICD and the studied facial parameters in males, but there was no correlation in females in our environment. Hence, the studied facial parameters may not be used as alternative for determining ICD.