Vol 7, No 1 (2019) 
ISSN 2167-8677 (online) 

DOI 10.5195/d3000.2019.86 

 

 

 

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Applicability of Moyer’s prediction tables to estimate the mesio-distal 
diameter of canines and premolars 
Amanda de Sousa Galdino1, Tânia Braga Ramos1, Vitor Marques Filgueiras2, Rosa Helena Wanderley Lacerda 2 

 
1. Brazilian Dentistry Association/ Paraiba, Brazil 

2. Paraiba Federal University, University Hospital, Cleft Center, Brazil  

Abstract 

Objective: The aim of this study was to verify the applicability of Moyer’s prediction tables to estimate the 
mesio-distal diameter of canines and pre-molars in a population of North-Eastern Brazil. Materials and 
Methods: A sample of 100 plaster moulds of 12-18-year-old patients was selected from the dental 
archives of the Brazilian Association of Orthodontists Dental School Clinic in the city of João Pessoa, State 
of Paraiba. Analyses were performed with R software (version 3.1.3). The upper and lower canines and 
premolars on both sides of the arch were measured. Data Analysis: Linear regression analysis was used to 
assess the closeness of the estimated values in each percentile of Moyer’s prediction table.  Analyses were 
performed at a significance level of 5%. Results: Gender dimorphism (P < 0.001) was found in both upper 
and lower arches. In the upper arch, the best regression models for data analysis of female, male and both 
were, respectively, p5 and p6”, p25 and p35, and p35 and 75, whereas in the lower arch were p15, p35 
and p75, with “p75 being the best-fitted percentile following application of correction equations for both 
genders. Conclusions: The Moyer’s prediction table can be applied for estimating the mesio-distal 
diameters of canines and pre-molars, provided that a correction factor is used for the population under 
study. 

 
Citation: Galdino AS, et al. (2019) Applicability of 

Moyer’s prediction tables to estimate the mesio-distal 

diameter of canines and premolars. Dentistry 3000. 
1:a001 doi:10.5195/d3000.2019.86 

Received: October 7, 2018  

Accepted:  December 6, 2018 

Published: June 26, 2019 

Copyright: ©2019 Galdino AS, et al. This is an 
open access article licensed under a Creative 

Commons Attribution Work 4.0 United States 
License. 
Email:rhelenawanderley@msn.com

 

 

Introduction 

The majority of malocclusions are 
related to an imbalance between 
mesio-distal diameter of the teeth 
and their bone support (1). This 
statement was observed by Angle 
(1899), who classified the 
malocclusions of the teeth. 
Antero-posterior malocclusions 
were classified as follows: Class I - 
normal relationship between 
maxilla and mandible; Class II - the 
maxilla is more anteriorly 
positioned than the mandible; and 
Class III – the mandible is more 
anteriorly positioned than the 
maxilla (2, 3). 

As there are several changes 
within the alveoli due to bone 

growth during the phase of mixed 
dentition, the majority of 
malocclusions occur in these sites. 
Also, because some teeth (e.g. 
canines and pre-molars) are still 
unerupted, it is complicated to 
evaluate any discrepancy between 
teeth and bone supports. In this 
phase, it is important to estimate 
the size of the unerupted 
permanent teeth in order to 
evaluate whether the dental 
sockets will correspond to the 
dental volume after eruption (4). 

There are some methods to 
evaluate discrepancies and the 
Moyer’s method is one of the 
most used as it has some 
advantages, such as simplicity in 

usage, quickness and no need of 
periapical radiography (5). The 
Moyer’s analysis is based on a 
statistical method in which one 
can predict the sum of mesio-
distal measurements of unerupted 
canines and pre-molars through its 
relationship with the sum of the 
mesio-distal measurements of the 
already erupted lower incisors (6). 
However, the method proposed 
by the author was based on a 
North-American population, and 
thus its accuracy may vary for 
populations from other countries 
(7).  

The objective of this work was to 
assess the applicability of the 
Moyer’s prediction tables to 

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 Applicability of Moyer’s prediction tables to estimate the mesio-distal diameter of canines and premolars 

 

Vol 7 No 1 (2019)    DOI 10.5195/d3000.2019.86 

 http://dentistry3000.pitt.edu 

estimate the mesio-distal 
diameter of canines and pre-
molars in a population of North-
Eastern Brazil. 

 

 

 

Materials and Methods 

Samples 

• All the plaster moulds of 
12-18-year-old patients 
who attended the Brazilian 
Association of 
Orthodontists Dental 
School Clinic in the city of 
João Pessoa, State of 
Paraiba, between 2010 and 
2015 were evaluated for 
selection, resulting in a 
sample of 100 moulds 
according to inclusion and 
exclusion criteria. Were 
included plaster moulds in 
good conditions, that is 
without fractures or 
distortions, with all the 
teeth should be erupted 
(i.e. dentition from first 
molar to first molar); in 
patients aged between 12 
and 18 years old. Were 
excluded teeth with 
anomalies in shape or size 
and evidence of caries or 
proximal restorations in 
the teeth to be measured. 

The present study was approved 
by the local human research ethics 
committee according to protocol 
number 44133515.6.0000.5180 
and resolution number 196 of 

1996 by the National Health 
Committee and National Ethics 
Committee of the Ministry of 
Health.  

Pilot Study 

 A pilot study was performed to 
calibrate the examiner, with 
Kappa test being 0.835 at 
significance level of 5% and 
confidence interval of 95%. In the 
pilot study, a total corresponding 
10% of the total sample, and 
therefore 10 models, evaluated 
twice, by the same examiner with 
an interval of 10 days and only the 
research was initiated after 
obtaining the concordance index 
intra-examiner above 0.7, 
considered good agreement and 
therefore means the examiner 
was calibrated and fit for research 
development. These models did 
not part of the survey sample. 

Measurement 

 The mesio-distal diameter 
of the lower incisors of each 
plaster mould was measured to 
obtain the sum of this space. Next, 
the measurements of upper and 
lower canines and pre-molars 
were performed on both sides 
based on the largest distances 
between the contact points of the 
proximal surfaces. A digital calliper 
(Digimess, São Paulo, Brasil) was 
used for the measurements 
( calibration 0,005mm/0,002”), 
being positioned in parallel to the 
occlusal surface and perpendicular 
to the axis of the tooth. 

The sample was divided into 
groups of 10 moulds each and 
they were individually measured, 

avoid the vies of the fatigue that 
could compromise the quality of 
the measurement. 

 Next, the sum of the 
measurements of upper and lower 
canines and premolars were 
transferred to Excel spreadsheets, 
which also included gender and 
age as variables.  

 

Statistical Analysis 

 Normality distribution test 
was applied to the mean values 
obtained from the total 
measurements of the mesio-distal 
diameter of canines and pre-
molars, resulting in non-normal 
distribution for both females (P = 
0.031; Shapiro-Wilk) and males (P 
< 0.001; Kolmogorov-Smirnov) as 
well as in complete distribution for 
both genders (P < 0.001; 
Kolmogorov-Smirnov). 

 In view of the results of the 
normality distribution test, the 
Mann-Whitney test was 
performed to assess the existence 
of gender dimorphism between 
females and males regarding the 
mean measurements of canines 
and pre-molars, showing presence 
of dimorphism (P  < 0.001) in both 
upper and lower arches.  

 Next, the Spearman’s 
correlation coefficients were 
calculated between mean values 
and Moyer’s percentiles for 
genders separately.  

 In view of the significant 
results for correlation analysis, a 
linear regression analysis was 

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Vol 7 No 1 (2019)    DOI 10.5195/d3000.2019.86 

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conducted to assess the prediction 
of measurements by using the 
Moyer’s percentiles, including 
generation of determination 
coefficient, which was the 
parameter adopted to chose the 
percentiles closer to the actual 
values found in the population of 
the city of João Pessoa in both 
males and females as well as in 
the general population.  

 For each mould in each 
analysis, the following was 
verified: error normality, 
homoscedasticity of residuals, 
error independence, linearity of 
predicted mean values and 
absence of aberrant, leverage or 
influence values. All the models 
proposed met the requisites of a 
fitted linear regression model.  

 All the analyses were 
conducted by using the statistical 
software R (version 3.1.3) at 
significance level of 5%. 

Results 

Table I show the measurements of 
canines and pre-molars regarding 
gender dimorphism, respectively, 
in the upper and lower arches.  

 TABLES I  

Upper Arch 

The results listed in Table II show 
that there are significant 
correlations between actual values 
and those estimated by the 
Moyer’s percentiles for males and 
females separately and for both 
genders, with stronger 
correlations being observed in 
males only, followed by both 

genders. For assessment of a 
correlation, values above 0.8 are 
considered as having excellent 
internal consistency. Prieto & 
Muniz (2000) suggest that, for 
samples smaller than 200 subjects, 
values above 0.6 are considered 
adequate enough so that the 
Spearman’s ranking can be the 
following: 0.70-0.79 (adequate); 
0.80-0.84 (good) and above 0.85 
(excellent) (8).   

                       TABLE II 

 In addition, the correlation 
values are positive, meaning that 
the values observed follow the 
actual ones so that the higher the 
actual values, the higher the 
estimated values.  

Linear Regression Analysis 

 The best models of linear 
regression obtained for analysis of 
data regarding females, males and 
both genders were, respectively, 
p5 and p65, p25, and p35 and p75. 
With regard to equal models 
regarding the determination 
coefficient for assessment of 
females and both genders, the 
models were diagnosed to decide 
which the best one was.  

 In this way, standardised 
residuals, Cook’s distance and 
residual square sum were 
assessed to verify the existence of 
differences between the models 
for these parameters.  

       TABLE III 

The smaller the standardised 
errors, the Cook’s distance and the 
residual square sum, the better 

the models because of the smaller 
distances between actual values 
and estimated ones. Therefore, 
there was no difference between 
the models generated for females, 
with the 75th percentile model 
being the best to predict space for 
unerupted teeth in both genders 
due to the lowest residual square 
sum.  

In this way, one can observe that 
the 5th percentile (r² = 0.624) and 
65th percentile (r² = 0.750) for 
female gender had the same 
parameters; the 25th and 75th 
percentiles were the best to 
predict measurements, 
respectively, for male gender and 
both genders. However, in view of 
the low rate of adjustment of the 
models for the female gender 
(62.4%), it is suggested that 
correction factors should be used 
for the best models for male 
gender and both genders, and in 
the case of females, it is suggested 
the use of parameters for 
estimation in both genders. The 
correction factors for these 
models are described below in 
Table IV, with respective rates of 
adjustment. 

TABLE IV 

Lower Arch 

 Assessment of correlation 
between mean values of pre-
molars and each percentile by 
gender and regarding the whole 
set of data.  

           These results indicate that 
there are significant correlations 
between actual values and 
estimated ones by using the 

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Vol 7 No 1 (2019)    DOI 10.5195/d3000.2019.86 

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Moyer’s percentiles for males and 
females separately as well as for 
both genders, with stronger 
correlations being observed for 
data on males followed by data on 
both genders. In addition, the 
positive correlation values mean 
that the values observed 
correspond with the actual values 
so that the higher the actual 
values, the higher the estimated 
ones ( Table V).  

Linear Regression Analysis 

 The best models of linear 
regression obtained for analysis of 
data regarding females, males and 
both genders involving the 
predictor variable were, 
respectively, p15 and p35, p75. By 
observing the values obtained for 
the different parameters of each 
model in each analysis (i.e. female, 
male and both), one can realise 
that they are equal.  

 In this way, standardised 
residuals, Cook’s distance and 
residual square sum were 
assessed to verify the existence of 
differences between the models 
for these parameters. However, 
according to Table VI, one can 
observe that there are differences 
neither in the mean values of 
residuals, nor in the mean values 
of Cook’s distance and residual 
square sum and respective 
standard deviations between the 
models of percentiles p15, p35 
and p75 in all analyses.  

 TABLE V and VI 

The smaller the standardised 
errors and the Cook’s distance, the 
better the models because of the 

smaller distances between actual 
values and estimated ones. 
Therefore, there was no difference 
between the models generated for 
females, with the 75th percentile 
model being the best to predict 
space for unerupted teeth in both 
genders due to the lowest residual 
square sum. Therefore, Table VI 
shows that there was no 
difference between the models 
generated for each assessment 
(i.e. female, male and both).  

In this way, one can realise that 
any percentile (i.e. p15, p35 and 
075) can be used to estimate the 
space for pre-molars, provided 
that the following correction 
factors are used for the population 
under study.  

TABLE VII 

Discussion 

The success of the orthodontic 
therapy depends mainly on the 
correct diagnosis (9), thus the 
treatment planning should include 
key elements of an early diagnosis. 
The methods to predict the mesio-
distal diameter of permanent 
teeth and the discrepancy 
between moulds play an 
important role in this context, 
since space problems can be 
diagnosed and treated even 
during the mixed dentition in a 
less invasive manner (10). In view 
of this, the present study was 
aimed at assessing one of the 
most used methods by surgeon-
dentists and its applicability in a 
study population.   

The presence of gender 
dimorphism (Tables I) in the 

findings of our study is 
corroborated by several works in 
the literature, that is, showing that 
men have larger upper and lower 
dental arches than women 
(11,12,13). Yamaguti & 
Vasconcelos (2005) also reported 
that there is gender dimorphism 
as all the mesio-distal dental 
dimensions of male individuals are 
greater than those of females (14). 

By applying the Moyer’s prediction 
table to our population, the 
correlation coefficients revealed 
that the percentiles corresponding 
to the best regression models in 
the upper arch for males and 
females separately as well as for 
both genders were p5 and p65, 
p25, p35, and p75, with the 75th 
percentile being the best model 
for both genders. In the lower 
arch, the percentiles p15, p35 and 
p75 had the best regression 
models. Some studies (15,16,17) 
showed that the Moyer’s table 
could not be used in their 
populations, since the actual 
values did not correspond to the 
estimated ones, by either over-
estimating or under-estimating 
the values, as in the studies by 
Farret et al. and Cabral & Pessoa 
(16,17), respectively.  

 However, by means of 
statistical tests, we found that the 
Moyer’s tables can be applied to 
different populations other than 
that used in the original study, 
provided that they are adjusted by 
using correction factors. This was 
corroborated by a similar study 
performed in the North-Eastern 
Brazil, with the probability tables 
being shown to be reliable for use 

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in Caucasian individuals (12), but it 
is necessary to use correction 
factors with an equation (Table 
IV), as for lower arch: P75 - 25.094 
+ 2.019 x 20.4 = 16.09. 

 Fida & Bherwani (18) 
(2011) compared the use of the 
linear equations developed for the 
North-American population to 
that developed by them for a 
population of Pakistani children 
and also compared the results to 
those found by Moyers and 
Tanaka & Johnstone, reporting no 
significant differences. However, 
the authors concluded that the 
methods used for the North-
American population did not fit to 
the Pakistani one, leading to the 
need to develop other method 
(18, 19). In a study on Caucasian 
Brazilians, Melgaço, Araujo & 
Ruelas (2006) also used linear 
regression equations and reported 
that the prediction method was 
good in determining the width of 
canines and pre-molars.  

 The Moyer’s prediction 
tables have probabilities ranging 
from 5 to 95 percent, but the 
author suggests that a 75-percent 
level should be used to estimate 
the values in order to prevent 
crowding (21). In the study by 
Cabral (2002), the values of the 
Moyer’s table were used at a 50-
percent level, since they are mean 
values and t-test compares them 
(16,17). In this study, such a 
percentile was also chosen 
because it represents a high 
adjustment rate, that is, R2 = 76.3 
percent. However, the adjustment 
rate was low for females and for 
this reason we suggest its use to 

standardise the use of the 
equation for both genders.  

TABLE VIII and IV 

 From these results, we 
propose that the Tables V and VI 
should be used in patients of 
North-Eastern Brazil in order to 
facilitate the treatment.  

 Based on the results found, 
we have concluded that: 

1) There was gender 
dimorphism between the 
statistical models for 
females and males, with 
the sum of the mesio-distal 
diameters of incisors, 
canines and pre-molars in 
men being greater than 
that in women regarding 
upper and lower arches; 

2) The correlation tests and 
linear regression analyses 
showed that the best 
regression models to 
assess data from both 
genders was those using 
the 75th percentile; 

3) The Moyer’s table can be 
used to predict the mesio-
distal diameter of canines 
and pre-molars in the 
population of North-
Eastern Brazil, provided 
that it is adjusted by means 
of a correction factor.  

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