The Presence of the Golden Ratio in the Morphology of Deciduous Teeth: A Pilot Study

Numerous studies have investigated the presence of the golden ratio in the proportions of the maxillary anterior teeth in permanent dentition; however, data regarding primary dentition remain limited. Given the increasing emphasis on dental aesthetics, it is important to determine whether the golden ratio can also be identified in deciduous teeth. The aim of this study was to measure the width and height of the maxillary primary anterior teeth, including the central incisors, lateral incisors, and canines, using two different measurement methods, and to analyse the ratios calculated from these measurements to assess the presence of the golden ratio. The study included children aged 3–6 years whose parents provided written informed consent. Exclusion criteria included dental caries, restorations, previous orthodontic treatment, dental crowding, and periodontal involvement. Standardized frontal photographs were obtained while ensuring that the occlusal plane was parallel to the floor, the millimetre scale used for calibration was parallel to the interpupillary line, and a constant photographic distance was maintained throughout the study. Subsequently, plaster models were fabricated and used to determine the actual tooth dimensions with a digital calliper. Frontal photographs were analysed using ImagePro Insight software. Data were recorded in Microsoft Excel, and statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism. The mean frontal-view width ratio of the maxillary primary lateral incisors to central incisors was 0.67, whereas the ratio of primary canines to lateral incisors was 1.01. The mean width-to-height ratio of the primary central incisors was 1.20. No significant sex-related differences were observed (p > 0.05). The calculated ratios did not correspond to the ideal golden ratio values in either boys or girls. Based on the findings of this pilot study, the primary dentition of the investigated population does not exhibit the consistent golden ratio relationships described for permanent dentition.