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Published on: September 8, 2023
A comparison of cephalometric measurements obtained using conventional and digital methods
Nishanthi Vithanaarachchi1, Ayodya Chandrasiri2, Lakshika Nawarathna3
1Department of Community Dental Health, Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, nvithanaarachchi3@gmail.com.
Introduction:
Cephalometry is a radiologic modality used in orthodontics that may play a significant role in clarifying doubtful situations where clinical assessment alone is not adequate to arrive at a definite diagnosis.
Objectives:
The aim of the study was to explore the landmarks identification and compare the validity of skeletal, dental and soft tissue analysis obtained from the digital and conventional methods.
Method:
Sixty five digital radiographs were selected randomly from the orthodontic patient's records and 22 soft tissue and hard tissue land marks were identified by the single clinician. Five dental, five skeletal and two soft tissue parameters were assessed with 4 linear and 8 angular measurements were assessed manually and digitally with Nemoceph version 06.
Results:
No significant difference in mean values of SNA,SNB, Occlusal - SN and GoGn to SN - plane angles, upper lip protrusion(UL-Sn -Pog) and lower lip protrusion(LL-Sn -Pog) in both manual and digital methods. Mean values of UI - NA and LI-NB were significantly deviating in manual and digital methods. Both UI to NA and LI to NB linear and angular measurements showed poor agreement (˂0.90) between the two methods in the assessment of Concordance correlation coefficient. Most of the linear (0.945) and angular (0.917) measurements showed excellent and good intra examiner reliability except for the UI - NA linear measurement (0.775) according to the Cronbach's alpha value.
Conclusion:
The validity of linear and angular measurements with the Nemoceph version-6 software and with the conventional method is highly correlated except for the UI to NA and LI- NB measurements. These dento - alveolar measurements with lower validity should be reconsidered at the time of cephalometry analysis especially in relation to land mark identification.
