Odontometric analysis of permanent mandibular first and second premolars in an Indian population using cone beam computed tomography

Background Differences in tooth size across populations can significantly influence dental diagnosis, treatment planning, and forensic identification. Despite its relevance, comprehensive region-specific odontometric data—particularly for the Indian population—remain limited. This study aimed to obtain odontometric measurements of permanent mandibular first and second premolars in the Indian population using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), and to compare these measurements with Wheeler’s dental morphology standards, focusing on crown length, root length, and total tooth length. Methods In this retrospective study, 300 high-quality CBCT scans were analyzed. Measurements of crown, root, and overall tooth lengths for mandibular first and second premolars were obtained using CS 3D Imaging (Version 3.9.3). A one-sample t -test was performed to compare the mean values with Wheeler’s reference standards. Results Statistically significant differences were observed in all measured dimensions ( p < 0.001). For first premolars, crown, root, and total lengths were shorter by 2.3 mm, 1.1 mm, and 3.4 mm, respectively. Second premolars showed reductions of 1.9 mm, 1.2 mm, and 3.0 mm, respectively. Conclusions This odontometric analysis highlights distinct dental morphological characteristics in the Indian population. These findings offer valuable insights for applications in anthropology, evolutionary biology, forensic science, and clinical dentistry.