Editing Cephalometric Analysis

{{Short description|Radiographic analysis of dental and skeletal relationships}}
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== Definition ==
'''Cephalometric Analysis''' is a diagnostic procedure in [[Orthodontics]] that involves the measurement and interpretation of a lateral head radiograph (Cephalogram). It is used to analyze dental and skeletal relationships to determine the nature of a [[Malocclusion]] and to plan surgical or orthodontic treatment.

== Landmarks and Planes ==
The analysis relies on identifying specific points (landmarks) on the radiograph:

=== Skeletal Landmarks ===
* '''Sella (S):''' Midpoint of the sella turcica.
* '''Nasion (N):''' The most anterior point of the suture between the frontal and nasal bones.
* '''A-Point:''' The deepest point on the curve of the maxilla between the anterior nasal spine and the dental arch.
* '''B-Point:''' The deepest point on the curve of the mandible.
* '''Menton (Me):''' The lowest point of the chin.

=== Reference Planes ===
* '''SN Plane:''' Represents the anterior cranial base.
* '''Frankfort Horizontal (FH):''' A line connecting the upper border of the external auditory meatus (Porion) and the lower border of the orbital rim (Orbitale).
* '''Mandibular Plane:''' A line representing the lower border of the mandible.

== Clinical Interpretations ==
The measurements derived from these landmarks help classify the patient's skeletal profile:

{| class="wikitable"
! Measurement !! Normative Value !! Interpretation
|-
| '''SNA Angle''' || 82° ± 2° || Position of the Maxilla relative to the skull.
|-
| '''SNB Angle''' || 80° ± 2° || Position of the Mandible relative to the skull.
|-
| '''ANB Angle''' || 2° || 0-4° = Class I; >4° = Class II; <0° = Class III skeletal relationship.
|-
| '''IMPA''' || 90° || The inclination of the lower incisor relative to the mandibular plane.
|}

== Digital Cephalometry ==
With the rise of [[Digital Dentistry]], manual tracing of radiographs on acetate paper has been largely replaced by software (e.g., Dolphin Imaging, CephX). Modern systems utilize [[Artificial Intelligence]] to automatically detect landmarks, increasing speed and reducing inter-operator variability.

== Applications ==
* '''Treatment Planning:''' Deciding whether a case requires extraction, surgery, or simple alignment.
* '''Growth Prediction:''' Assessing the remaining growth potential in adolescent patients.
* '''Research:''' Studying the long-term effects of orthodontic mechanics on the facial profile.

== See Also ==
* [[Orthodontics]]
* [[Digital Dentistry]]
* [[Orthognathic Surgery]]

[[Category:Orthodontics]]
[[Category:Dental Imaging]]