AP relationship of the maxillary central incisors to the forehead in adult white females.

Objective: To evaluate and compare the anteroposterior relationship of the maxillary central incisors to the forehead in adult white females with harmonious profiles and in adult white female orthodontic patients.

Materials And Methods: Ninety-four photographic images of adult white females with good facial harmony (control sample) were compared with 94 photographs of adult white females seeking orthodontic treatment (study sample). All images were of the face in profile with the maxillary central incisors and the forehead in full view. The images were scanned, resized, and rotated to the upright head position. Reference lines were constructed to assess the anteroposterior positions of the maxillary central incisors as well as forehead inclinations.

Results: In the control sample, 93% had maxillary central incisors positioned between the FFA point and glabella, 4% posterior to the FFA point, and 3% anterior to glabella. The positions of the maxillary central incisors were strongly correlated with forehead inclination (r2 = .642). In the study sample, 21% had maxillary central incisors positioned between the FFA point and glabella, 64% posterior to the FFA point, and 15% anterior to glabella. The positions of the maxillary central incisors were poorly correlated with forehead inclination (r2 = .094). The difference between the means for anteroposterior maxillary incisor position was statistically significant (P = .0001).

Conclusion: The forehead is an important landmark for anteroposterior maxillary incisor positioning for adult white female patients seeking improved facial harmony.