EVALUATION OF VALIDITY OF PONT'S INDEX AND ITS CORRELATION TO THE FACIAL FRAMEWORK IN INDIANS

Volume : VII, Issue : VIII, August - 2018

Dr. Fauzan Zaheer, Dr. Mahesh Kumar Y, Dr. Revanth S Soonthodu, Dr. Sharath Kumar Shetty, Dr. Sharad Kharyal, Dr. Ruchi Thalwal

Objective: Assessing applicability of Pont‘s index in Indians and determining whether a correlation existed between it and other facial framework

landmarks in this group.

Methodology: 100 Indian subjects between 18–25 years were selected and combined incisal width and arch widths were measured from maxillary

study models. Facial framework measurements were taken directly on the subjects from specified craniofacial landmarks. Values obtained were

compared with predicted values according to Pont‘s index and correlations between different dental and facial framework measurements were

studied.

Results: Moderate correlation existed between combined incisal width and the arch widths in the premolar and molar region. The measured arch

widths were smaller than the predicted arch width. A significant correlation of facial width, mouth width, mandibular width, maxillary depth,

mandibular depth with arch width in the premolar and molar region was reported.

Conclusion: Pont‘s index tends to overestimate the premolar and molar arch widths by 2.46 mm and 2.08 mm respectively in Indian population and

a moderate to strong correlation exists between facial framework and the above arch widths.