ENAMEL THICKNESS OF THE POSTERIOR DENTITION - ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR NONEXTRACTION TREATMENT

This study describes mesial and distal enamel thickness of the permane nt posterior mandibular dentition. The sample comprised 98 Caucasian a dults (59 males, 39 females) 20 to 35 years old. Bitewing radiographs of the right permanent mandibular premolars and first and second molar s were illuminated and transferred to a computer at a fixed magnificat ion via a video camera. Enamel and dentin thicknesses were identified and digitized on the plane representing the maximum mesiodistal diamet er of each tooth. The results showed that there were no significant se x differences in either mesial or distal enamel thickness. Enamel on t he second molars was significantly thicker (0.3 to 0.4 mm) than enamel on the premolars. Distal enamel was significantly thicker than mesial enamel. There was approximately 10 mm of total enamel on the four tee th combined. Assuming 50% enamel reduction, the premolars and molars s hould provide 9.8 mm of additional space for realignment of mandibular teeth.