Summary
The model exam is one of many diagnostic tools in orthodontics and dentomaxillofacial orthopedics. The values on which the statistical norm were constructed, are based on specific populations and they do not reflect the morphological differences in the craniofacial complex between the different ethnic groups. The purpose of this study was to identify the transverse and sagittal maxillary and mandibular lengths of the Chilean mestizo adult population with normal occlusion, and compare them with the Korkhaus index based on a German Caucasian adult population. For this study 20 undergraduate students with normal occlusion were recruited from the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of Valparaíso. Both upper and lower dental casts were obtained from each student, and Korkhaus index was applied: the interpremolar length, intermolar length, upper anterior length and lower anterior length were measured. Comparison between the values of the sample and the reference values of the Korkhaus index was made with the Wilcoxon range test using the STATA 15.0 statistical software and significant values of p <0.05 were considered. A statistically significant difference was found in the value of the upper anterior length (p-0.013); for the interpremolar length (p-0.9552) the intermolar length (p-0.8223) and the lower anterior length (p-0.0452) no differences were found. The greater magnitude of the dental arch upper anterior length compared to the German Caucasian adult population is due to dental protrusion present in the Chilean mestizo population, which does not affect the normal occlusion characteristics.
KEY WORDS: dental arch, dental model, Caucasian race, Chile.
How to cite this article
SCHLEYER, D. N. & COUVE, P. F. Evaluation of Korkhaus index in Chilean adult individuals with normal occlusion. Int. J. Odontostomat., 14(3):393-399, 2020.
