Aim. To determine the link between the
clinical and radiological torque of the medial incisors in
cases with physiological occlusion.
Materials and methods. A measurement of the clinical
torque values was performed (whereas the torque is defined
as the deviation of the tooth crown vestibular surface from
the occlusal plane) in 98 people with physiological occlusion
and a full set of permanent teeth. When measuring the
clinical incisor torque, three methods were employed. The
first method allowed studying teeth torque in relation to
the occlusal plane on the cast jaw models using the ArcoZet equipment (by Scheu Dental GmbH). The second
method implied using a modified protractor, where the
moving part was oriented in relation to the occlusal plane.
The third method we used involved analyzing data from
teleradiography and cone-beam tomograms obtained with
the PaX-i3D SC digital panoramic X-ray unit (VATECH
Global), which were marked with linear and angular
reference points. The patients were divided into three groups
depending on the incisors location: Group 1 included
patients with the mesotrusive incisors location; Group 2
were patients with physiological protrusion of the incisors
and a decrease in the interincisal angle, with Group 3
including patients with physiological retrusion of incisors.
Results. Regardless of the type of dental arches and the
vestibular lingual inclination of the incisors, the average
difference between the clinical and the radiological
incisor torque values is 26°, which can be used in clinical
orthodontics to develop a treatment tactics and its
effectiveness in people with various gnathic and dental types
as well as with various dental arches.
Conclusion. All methods used for measuring the teeth
inclination angles in the vestibular lingual direction can
be employed both in the applied and in the clinical aspect.
Identifying the permanent teeth torque through cast models
of dentition morphometry and through using special
equipment, takes a lot of effort, time, at the same time
being subject to potential measurement errors. The methods
implying analysis of cone-beam computed tomography
images feature high-tech reliance, precision, whereas the
reproductive capacity and interpretation of the results
allows using the available angular and linear parameters for
evaluating the effectiveness of the respective orthodontic
procedures through all the stages of treatment