Buccolingual inclination of first molars in untreated adults: A CBCT study.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the buccolingual inclinations of maxillary and mandibular first molars in untreated adults.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Fifty-nine subjects (14 males and 45 females; mean age, 41.2 years) with no missing teeth, no crossbite, and minimal crowding were included. For each subject, a CBCT was taken. The long axis of each first molar was determined, and the inclination of each molar was measured using the long axis and the floor.

RESULTS

One hundred seventeen out of 118 mandibular first molars measured had a lingual inclination, with a mean of 12.59° ± 5.47°. For the maxillary first molars, 107 out of 118 had a buccal inclination, with a mean of 4.85° ± 4.22°.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a curvature to the inclinations of first molars in untreated adults, where the maxillary molars have a slight buccal inclination and mandibular molars have a slight lingual inclination.