45 mm. Also, Grave and Becker16 proved this similar measurement as selleck inhibitor 12 to 13 mm. Many studies showed that incisal edges of the maxillary central incisors were positioned 8 to 10 mm in front of the centre of the incisive papilla.2,4,6�C8,10�C20 Another anatomical landmark that have been suggested in complete denture construction is pterygomaxillary notch-incisive papilla plane.21 Fu et al22 found that the pterygomaxillary notch-incisive papilla plane tends to be more parallel to the occlusal plane that uses mesio-labial incisal edge of maxillary right central incisor as anterior reference point and mesio-buccal cusp tips of maxillary first or second molars as posterior reference point.

Although, several studies investigated the horizontal relationship between incisive papilla and the maxillary central incisors,2�C4,10,11,16,17,20,21,23�C25 the authors did not find specific information in the literature relative to vertical distance between the incisive papilla and the maxillary central incisors. Thus, the aim of the present study was to determine the vertical distance between the maxillary central incisors and centre of the incisive papilla. MATERIALS AND METHODS Dental student volunteers from Suleyman Demirel University Faculty of Dentistry were solicited by a written announcement to participate in the study. The inclusion criteria were: no restoration and tooth loss on the upper jaw, well-arranged maxillary anterior teeth, no orthodontic treatment, Angle Class I maxillomandibular relationship, no pathology that affects the dentition or the surface texture and shape of teeth, no incisal wear on the dentition and no gummy smile in the subjects.

The volunteers were examined by one of the investigators of the study and one hundred volunteers (58 women, 42 men) were selected from the students that have the inclusion criteria with a draw. The ages of the subjects were ranged from 19 to 22 years, with a mean age of 20.37��1.1 years. Upper jaw impressions were taken on the subjects by using stock impression trays (Teknik Dental Rostfrei, Istanbul, Turkey) and irreversible hydrocolloid impression material (Tulip, Cavex Holland, Haarlem, Holland). In order to correctly register the incisive papilla and reduce soft tissue distortion the impression was made under minimal pressure. The stone casts were obtained using ADA type III dental stone (Gilidur, Fachbereich Dental, Ludwigshafen, Germany).

Each stone cast was trimmed following the same procedures to produce a flat base that was parallel to the occlusal plane (anterior reference point: mesio-labial incisal edge of upper right central incisors; posterior reference points: mesio-buccal cusp tips of upper first molars). Two mm standard transparent resin plate and a spirit level (Veto, Istanbul, Turkey) were Carfilzomib used to achieve the parallelism of the described occlusal plane to the base of the stone casts. Stone casts were numbered randomly for measurements.