The lingual angle of incisors

Abstract

A morphologic trait, not previously registered, on the incisor lingual surface: «The lingual angle of incisors», was studied in Norwegians. The lingual angle is the angle between the floor of the lingual fossa and the dental tubercle. Measurements of the lingual angle could be performed with sufficient accuracy. Deviations from normal distribution in skewness and kurtosis values did not affect statistical testing. The general similarity of the frequency polygons forall incisors in the way they were peaked and stepped is possibly due to participation of the same factors on the genetic level in the determination of the trait. The mean lingual angles were (in degrees): 11sup = 142, 12sup = 156, 11inf = 153 and 12inf = 154. No significant bilateral asymmetry or sex differences were found. Correlations were high for both central to central and lateral to lateral incisors in both jaws, highest for centrals in the maxilla and laterals in the mandibula. Central to lateral correlations were relatively low, especially in the upper jaw. Interjaw correlations were low, but 11sup showed a tendency to be better correlated than 12sup to lower incisors, 12sup and 11inf were the most variable incisors in each jaw. The dental tubercle probably plays an important role in determining the lingual angle. Measurements of the lingual angle give information on the profile of the lingual surface in inciso-cervical direction. Statistical analysis of a pheno-typic trait may give information on factors which determine the trait.