[Application of computerized teleroentgenographic analysis in orthodontic diagnosis]

The rapid advancement of electronics and availability of inexpensive personal computers have resulted in analytical programs for metric evaluation and graphic presentation of cranial roentgenograms and made it possible to predict craniofacial growth. Hence, an increasing number of roentgen-cephalometric analyses is now based on computerized data processing. The objective of this paper was to cast light on various aspects of computerized latero-lateral teleroentgenographic analysis by presenting recent literature data pertaining to this subject. The following conclusions have been reached: despite the fact that the number of data processed is very large, the time of processing is ten times shorter compared to conventional data processing; most analytical errors refer to the location of roentgen-cephalometric points; elaboration of orthodontic treatment on the basis of computerized growth prognosis is not recommended; despite its systemic limitations, there are numerous arguments in favor of the routine use of computerized roentgeno-cephalometric analysis.