Is Lateral Cephalogram is superior to Photograph in assessment of vertical facial height measurements in Orthodontic treatment?A descriptive analytic study.

摘要

Objective: To assess correlation between the vertical facial height measurements on the lateral cephalograms and photographs in orthodontic treatment. Study Design: Descriptive analytic study Place and Duration: At Orthodontics Department of Margalla College of Dentistry, Margalla Institute of Health Sciences, Rawalpindi from 1st December, 2017 to 31st May, 2018. Methodology: Adult patients more than 18 years of age needing orthodontic treatment, were included. Lateral cephalograms were traced for all patients and ratio of Upper Anterior Facial Height to Lower Anterior Facial Height and that of Lower Anterior Facial Height to Total Anterior Facial Height was measured for all the patients. Profile photographs of all the patients were also taken on which the same ratios were measured. Correlation between the ratios measured on lateral cephalogram and profile photographs was determined. Results: A total of 192 patients from both genders were selected. Pearson correlation test was used to determine the correlation. For Upper Anterior Facial Height to Lower Anterior Facial Height ratio on lateral cephalograms and photographs, r=0.498, p=0.000 with r 2=0.24 showing a moderate correlation. For Lower Anterior Facial Height to Total Anterior Facial Height ratio on lateral cephalograms and photographs, r=0.389, p=0.000 with r2=0.152, also showing a moderate correlation. Conclusion: Photographs cannot be solely relied on for the diagnosis of vertical facial proportions because facial soft tissues may develop in proportion or disproportion to the underlying skeletal structures. Photographs should be considered as a supplement to and not the substitution for lateral cephalograms.