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It is essential to establish the suitable position for artificial maxillary anterior teeth, because of not only esthetics, phonetics, mastication, but also optimal position of artificial posterior teeth for the construction of functional and esthetic prostheses. Anatomic landmarks have been used in the arrangement of artificial teeth. Such as incisive papilla and palatal rugae are useful landmarks for positioning occlusal rim and upper anterior artificial teeth because they are relatively stable and to be identified on master cast. Therefore, if average distance between maxillary anterior teeth and landmarks in dentate subjects are measured and applied, appropriate position of occlusal rim can be initially established. In this study, to present a guide to the position of the occlusal rim for upper anterior teeth of edentulous patients, horizontal distance between anatomic landmarks were measured. Maxillary casts were made in 72 Korean dentate subjects. Horizontal distance between central incisor and incisive papilla, between incisive papilla and intercanine line, and between primary palatine rugae and gingival margin of canine were measured on each cast. The results of this study were as follows ; 1. The mean distance from the incisal edge of central incisor to the posterior border of incisive papilla was 12.1 mm (Male 12.2 mm, Female 11.9 mm). 2. The mean distance between posterior border of incisive papilla and intercanine line was 3.5 mm (Male 3.4 mm, Female 3.6 mm / Left 3.6 mm, Right 3.4 mm). 3. The mean distance from the palatal gingival margin of canine to the lateral border of primary palatine rugae was 2.4 mm (Male 2.4 mm, Female 2.4 mm / Left 2.4 mm, Right 2.3 mm). 4. On all measured items, there were no significant differencies in measured values between male and female, and between left and right sides. (P>0.05)
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