RESUMO
This study characterizes the distribution of the mesiodistal widths of 6 maxillary anterior natural teeth [NMAT] for comparison with the widths of the most commonly used artificial denture teeth moulds [AMAT]. The width of the six maxillary anterior teeth was measured on a curve defined by the facial surfaces of the teeth. 280 casts of dentate subjects [140 men and 140 women] were measured. The width of the maxillary anterior natural teeth was compared to that of 5 different brands of commonly used artificial denture teeth moulds. The mean +/- standard deviation [SD] width of the six anterior teeth for men and women [54.09 +/- 2.5 mm and 52.08 +/- 2.8 mm, respectively] differed significantly [P < .001], 35% of the women and 51% of men had anterior teeth that measured 53 mm or wider. In contrast, the mean width of the most widely used artificial maxillary denture teeth [Welbite] is 45 mm while 45.3 for all 98 AMAT moulds. Of the 98 AMAT moulds available, only 4 have a width between 51- 53.4 mm, two of them from Yamahachi and one each from Shofu and Ivoclar. These findings suggest an acute shortage of AMAT moulds in sizes above 50mm. The lack of physiologically sized tooth molds could be one reason for the inappropriate selection of comparatively small maxillary denture teeth