Orthodontic Treatment Planning: Do Orthodontists Treat to Cephalometric Norms?

Abstract

Cephalometric norms are important to orthodontists in their diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation of orthodontic treatment outcomes. The purpose of the present study is to establish if orthodontists treat and finish their cases to the cephalometric means or norms. Pre-and post-cephalometric radiographs and dental casts of 35 orthodontically treated cases were analyzed. The Kappa test, Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test, Paired t-test, and Z-test were used for the statistical analysis of the data. The result revealed that orthodontists do not reach the cephalometric mean values post-treatment. However, sagittal maxillomandibular relationship and interlabial gap are the main areas of improvements. This leads to improvement of soft tissue esthetics by camouflaging the skeletal and dental relationship.

Soft-tissue cephalometric norms in a north Indian ethnic population

“…[16] Our findings of soft-tissue measurements showed significant differences between the sexes; the mean soft-tissue facial angle of men was higher than that of women, suggesting that women have more convex profiles. However, Legan and Burstone[12] and others[171819] reported nearly identical values. Scheideman et al .…”

A Study of Dentists’ Preferred Maxillary Anterior Tooth Width Proportions: Comparing the Recurring Esthetic Dental Proportion to Other Mathematical and Naturally Occurring Proportions

“…Plastic surgeons measure angles and proportions when evaluating patients before planning potential surgeries. Orthodontists routinely measure cephalometric radiographs to determine critical hard‐tissue angulations and compare them to accepted norms 1 . Cephalometric analysis is vital in orthodontic treatment planning, although it may not equate to dental, dentofacial, or facial esthetics.…”

Evaluation of the golden proportion in the natural dentition: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…42 Orthodontists regularly measure cephalometric radiographs to determine critical angles of hard tissues and compare them with accepted norms. 43 The present systematic review and meta-analysis showed the presence of a golden ratio of the maxillary lateral incisor to the central incisor and of the canine to the lateral incisor with a 95% confidence level based on reviews identified with a keyword search, selected based on the term "anterior maxillary teeth," and studies that included the golden proportion. 21 In earlier studies, measurements and data were obtained from extracted teeth.…”

“…46 Past studies may have included fewer minorities and geographically diverse populations, which would have skewed their data. 43,45 Different ethnic and cultural preferences should be taken into consideration when designing smiles. These preferences are systemic and complex, are supported by unequal power beliefs and relationships, and operate at the community, individual, and organizational levels, leading to the stigmatization, marginalization, and discrimination of ethnic minorities.…”