DEVELOPMENT OF OR THODONTIc CEPEALOMETRIC RADIOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS BY MEANS OF C0MPUTER GRAPHIC TECHNIQUES

Abstract

Orthodontics is the area of dentistry primarily concerned with . the analysis and correction _of tooth posftion, Though there may be more than one effective method of treating a malocclusion. none will be successful . unless the treatment plan has been based upon an adequate recognition of the abnormality. Althpugh skeletal imbalances can be usually identified readily• in a clinical examination. the precise analysis of deformities is frequently aided by cephalometric radiography • .;••. A standardized profile view is tr acedand relevant distances and angles a_re_ measured between var-ious. f structures and compar edwtthmean values. Recently,• such meaaur-ernenta . . , have been facilitated 'by the• aid of co.mputers. , This study has aimed 'to pr oduo e .certain computer-pro gr-amme s

. . to aid such .investrgation of the lateral skull, outline. .: <;!e,rtain pro gr-amrries . :•.,•• �', . . '

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: have been i:le�.ign�d Jo produce pr eviously defined mathematdcal'rerer ence _ -. . . .• . . ' . , . . ' . c••c::::,,,-; -,': :• • , . • . . " •• • ' iiif'!ef:\-�'. _. - systems -to investigate• the lateral skull size.' shape and manipulate cer'tairr : � .' ' ' . . ' •. . . -. fi�ia.l. areas; .Each programme was tested to evaluate its validity,'. H � •. . . . . .. . • was.then applied to a random sample of lateral skull .cephalostat r adio-

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gr.aphs . o.f 158.

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Manchester schoolch. ildre.n (82 males. , 7,6. .re. ma. re.s) ag. e. d ...•.

s f\._../fl�':::tcJi'J.'").; • ::' &torh 9 _: 12 years 'old, who wer;e attending a cornpr-ehenstve pr imar-y school , j < •. '. . .�------, 1l. . / '\. . . ''• .. The tracings were digitized. stored and analysed within the ! . ' ' . \ . -, '

were computed for