Tandvinkel

Tandvinkel is a term used in dentistry in Scandinavian languages, combining the words for tooth (tand) and angle (vinkel). It refers to the orientation or inclination of a tooth within the dental arch, described as an angle between the tooth’s long axis and a chosen reference line or plane.

Measurement of tandvinkel typically involves defining the tooth’s long axis and selecting a reference frame. Common references include the occlusal plane, the midsagittal plane, or the jaw axis. In clinical practice and imaging, the angle can be determined on radiographs, dental casts, or digital 3D models using specialized software. The concept is related to axial inclination and is used to quantify how far a tooth tilts mesially, distally, labially, or palatally/lingually.

Clinical relevance lies in diagnosis and treatment planning. The tandvinkel affects aesthetics, occlusion, and function. Abnormal tooth inclination can contribute to crowding, protrusion, improper bite, or wear patterns. Orthodontic, prosthodontic, and restorative interventions may aim to modify the angle to achieve better alignment, contact relationships, and facial harmony. Changes in inclination can occur with growth, wear, tooth wear, or after treatment.

Variability is expected across tooth types (incisors, canines, premolars, molars) and populations. Ranges differ by age, genetics, and dental development. In Scandinavian dental literature, tandvinkel is a descriptive tool for documenting tooth position and planning multidisciplinary care, though the term is largely synonymous with the general notion of tooth inclination in English-language texts.

In summary, tandvinkel describes the inclination of a tooth relative to a reference and plays a role in diagnosis, planning, and evaluation in orthodontics and restorative dentistry.