Methods of cephalometric superimposition - A review

Sara Asif1, Mohammad Tariq2,*

1JR III, 2Professor department of orthodontics Dr. Z. A. Dental College AMU, Aligarh
Corresponding Author:
Email: jmi786jmi@gmail.com
Abstract
In 1931, Broadbent(7,8) and Hofrath(12) introduced the technique of radiographic cephalometry. Since then, clinicians and
researchers have adopted and routinely used this valuable tool on orthodontic patients in order to analyse underlying dentofacial
relationships. Cephalometrics Superimposition is used to gain a better understanding of the facial changes that accompany
growth and/or orthodontic treatment.

Introduction
A cephalometric superimposition is an analysis of lateral cephalograms of the same patient taken at different times.
It isused to evaluate a patient's growth pattern between different ages and to evaluate changes in the dentoalveolar
and basal relationships after a course of orthodontic or surgical treatment. Cephalometric procedures and evaluations
are considered in the light of; pretreatment objectives, orthodontic treatment modalities used, long-term follow-up of
the treatment results and during the retention and post-retention periods.
Over the time various methods of superimposition have been developed. The aim of this article is to
provide an overview of the various cephalometric techniques.

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Lateral cephalometric analysis for treatment

planning in orthodontics based on MRI
compared with radiographs: A feasibility
study in children and adolescents

Introduction
Angular and linear measurements performed on lateral cephalometric radiographs (LCR) play
a pivotal role in orthodontic routine diagnostics. Introduced in the 1930s [1] and further developed
over many decades, lateral cephalometric analysis on LCR has remained the standard
method in clinical routine until today. By assessing skeletal and dental relationships, it allows
diagnosis and monitoring of various growth and development abnormalities [2]. For example,
lateral cephalometric analysis is important for the evaluation of severe skeletal malocclusions
and for the planning of orthodontic appliances or orthognathic surgery [2, 3]. Radiation protection
is of major importance in orthodontics, as the vast majority of patients are children or
adolescents and as in most cases a series of radiographs is taken in the course of treatment.
Because of the increased lifetime risk for stochastic radiation effects [46], it would be desirable
to perform imaging in complete absence of ionizing radiation.