Abstract

SANTOS, Isis Rodrigues Menezes dos  and  NORONHA, Walter Pinheiro. Examination of Tanaka & Johnston's prediction regarding mesiodistal measurements of unerupted canines and premolars. RGO, Rev. gaúch. odontol. (Online) [online]. 2013, vol.61, n.1, pp. 55-60. ISSN 1981-8637.

Objective To evaluate the method proposed by Tanaka & Johnston with the prediction of the mesiodistal diameter of unerupted canines and premolars in the Brazilian population, in the Department of Dentistry at the Federal University of Sergipe in Aracaju. Methods The maxillary and mandibular mesiodistal diameters of the permanent incisors, canines and premolars were measured directly in the oral cavity with the help of a compass and then calibrated using a digital electronic caliper on a sample of 40 individuals, 20 females (10 white race and 10 black race) and 20 males (10 white race and 10 black race) aged between 14 and 23. The results obtained with the application of the Tanaka & Johnston formulae were compared with the actual values through statistical tests. Results There was a greater variation between the actual and predicted values using the method of Tanaka & Johnston in females. The maxilla and black race also had a greater variation, but this variation was considered statistically insignificant. Conclusion Although the Tanaka & Johnston study had been conducted on a sample of European descendants, when used on the Brazilian population described, the method was effective for gender, race and age, giving us a level of reliability in the research study of 69.1%.

Keywords : Bicuspid; Cuspid; Mixed dentition; Orthodontics.