Dental-Facial Midline: An Esthetic Based Classification

Abstract Background The facial midline and dental midline play an important role in facial esthetics, cosmetic dentistry, facial plastic surgery, and anthropologic studies. Objectives This study studied the dental-facial midline in Nepalese subjects and to classify the midline. Methods The study was done in 150 Nepalese subjects, mostly consisting of University students (80 males and 70 females). After obtaining ethical approval, facial and dental midlines were analyzed using a scale. Results It showed 26 (18%) study subjects showed the coincidence of the facial midline with the maxillary and mandibular dental midlines. It showed that only 44 (30%) subjects showed the coincidence of facial midline with only maxillary dental midline, and 26 (17%) subjects showed the facial midline coincidence with only mandibular dental midline. The dental midline discrepancy was more prevalent in the maxillary arch and more prevalent on the right side. Midline discrepancy is seen more in males compared to females. The majority of the deviation showed 1 mm, followed by 2 mm, and 3 mm. Conclusions The coincidence of the facial midline with both the maxillary and mandibular dental midlines is uncommon. Midline discrepancy is seen more in males compared to females. The majority of the subjects show a mild discrepancy of 1 mm. The midline discrepancy was more seen on the right side and in the maxillary arch.