Resumo

ALMEIDA, Ricardo Kanaan Mariano de et al. The upper central incisor shape in the literature viewpoint. RFO UPF [online]. 2011, vol.16, n.3, pp. 337-341. ISSN 1413-4012.

The first research report about central incisors shape dates from 1905. Since then, a lot of theories were developed to help tooth selection for prosthesis, for instance, by means of the facial morphology, by gender, age, race, among others. Objective: To analyze the literature, about the shape of the upper central incisor, emphasizing the importance of maintaining its original form to obtain a more attractive smile, as well as to evaluate the methods used to determine the form and selection of artificial teeth proposed by several authors. Methodology: it is a qualitative study, that searched in international databases - LILACS, BBO, MEDLINE - studies about central incisor shape. Descriptors like tooth, incisor, shape perception and morphology were used, trying to find correlations between dental shape and other anatomical structures. Conclusion: It was found an improvement in the methodologies used in recent studies, which will possibly provide more precision in a near future. Currently, subjective and individual methods show more harmonious and satisfactory results.

Palavras-chave : Tooth.; Incisor.; Form perception.; Face.; Morphology..