Facial Measurements as Predictors of Maxillary Anterior Teeth Dimensions in Young Adults from West Bengal: A Cross Sectional Study

Abstract Background: In complete denture therapy, selecting the size of maxillary anterior teeth is critical for esthetics and function, yet pre‑extraction records are often unavailable. Stable facial references may provide practical guidance. Aim: To develop clinically usable guidance for selecting the width of maxillary anterior teeth based on facial measurements in the absence of pre‑extraction records. Methods: In this cross‑sectional study conducted at HIDSAR (January 2018–July 2019), 300 dentate participants (150 males, 150 females; 18–30 years) underwent standardized extraoral measurements—interpupillary distance (IPD), inner intercanthal distance (ICD), interalar width (IAW), intercommissural width (ICW), philtrum width (PW)—and intraoral measurements—central incisor width (CIW) and the canine‑to‑canine circumferential arc distance (CARCD). Each parameter was measured in triplicate with an electronic digital Vernier caliper (0.01‑mm resolution). Pearson correlations and linear regressions were used to evaluate associations. Results: All seven dimensions were larger in men than women (p<0.05). Sample‑level means included (mean ± SD): IPD 64.23 ± 2.67 mm; ICD 31.80 ± 3.15 mm; IAW 36.13 ± 5.12 mm; ICW 51.53 ± 3.82 mm; CARCD 49.61 ± 7.69 mm; CIW 8.60 mm (SD not reported). IAW showed a moderate positive correlation with CARCD (r≈0.50; p<0.001). IPD correlated positively but more weakly with CARCD (males r=0.13; females r=0.33). ICD showed no correlation with CARCD. Regression equations, including a multiple‑predictor model, were derived to estimate CARCD from facial metrics. Conclusions: In this young adult West Bengal cohort, interalar width is a practical extraoral guide to estimate the combined width/arc of maxillary anterior teeth. The derived formulas may aid clinical tooth selection when pre‑extraction records are unavailable; further validation is recommended.