Cephalometric analysis


Cephalometric analysis is the clinical application of cephalometry. It is analysis of the dental and skeletal relationships of a human skull. It is frequently used by dentists, orthodontists, and oral and maxillofacial surgeons as a treatment planning tool. Two of the more popular methods of analysis used in orthodontology are the Steiner analysis and the Downs analysis. There are other methods as well which are listed below.

Cephalometric radiographs

analysis depends on cephalometric radiography to study relationships between bony and soft tissue landmarks and can be used to diagnose facial growth abnormalities prior to treatment, in the middle of treatment to evaluate progress, or at the conclusion of treatment to ascertain that the goals of treatment have been met. A Cephalometric radiograph is a radiograph of the head taken in a Cephalometer that is a head-holding device introduced in 1931 by Holly Broadbent Sr. in USA. The Cephalometer is used to obtain standardized and comparable craniofacial images on radiographic films.

Lateral cephalometric radiographs

Lateral cephalometric radiograph is a radiograph of the head taken with the x-ray beam perpendicular to the patient's sagittal plane. Natural head position is a standardized orientation of the head that is reproducible for each individual and is used as a means of standardization during analysis of dentofacial morphology both for photos and radiographs. The concept of natural head position was introduced by Coenraad Moorrees and M. R Kean in 1958 and now is a common method of head orientation for cephalometric radiography.
Registration of the head in its natural position while obtaining a cephalogram has the advantage that an extracranial line can be used as a reference line for cephalometric analysis, thus bypassing the difficulties imposed by the biologic variation of intracranial reference lines. True vertical is an external reference line, commonly provided by the image of a free-hanging metal chain on the cephalostat registering on the film or digital cassette during exposure. The true vertical line offers the advantage of no variation and is used with radiographs obtained in natural head position.

Posteroanterior (P-A) cephalometric radiograph

A radiograph of the head taken with the x-ray beam perpendicular to the patient's coronal plane with the x-ray source behind the head and the film cassette in front of the patient's face. PA ceph can be evaluated by following analyses that have been developed through the years:
A Cephalometric tracing is an overlay drawing produced from a cephalometric radiograph by digital means and a computer program or by copying specific outlines from it with a lead pencil onto acetate paper, using an illuminated view-box. Tracings are used to facilitate cephalometric analysis, as well as in superimpositions, to evaluate treatment and growth changes. Historically, tracings of the cephalometric radiographs are done on an 0.003 inch thick matte acetate paper by using a #3 pencil. The process is started by marking three registration crosses on the radiograph which are then transferred to the acetate paper.
Anatomical structures are traced first and some structures are bilateral and have tendency to show up as two separate lines, should have an "average" line drawn which is represented as a broken line. These landmarks could include inferior border of mandible.

Cephalometric landmarks

The following are important cephalometric landmarks, which are points of reference serving as datums in measurement and analysis.
Landmark points can be joined by lines to form axes, vectors, angles, and planes. For example, the [|sella] and the nasion are points that together form the sella-nasion line, which can be projected into the SN plane. A prime symbol usually indicates the point on the skin's surface that corresponds to a given bony landmark versus skin nasion.
Landmark nameLandmark symbolComments
A point AMost concave point of anterior maxilla
A point–nasion–B point angleANBAverage of 2° ± 2°
B point BMost concave point on mandibular symphysis
basionBaMost anterior point on foramen magnum
anterior nasal spineANSAnterior point on maxillary bone
articulareArJunction between inferior surface of the cranial base and the posterior border of the ascending rami of the mandible
Bolton pointPoint at the intersection of the occipital condyle and Foramen Magnum at the highest notch posterior to the occipital condyle
cheilionChCorner of oral cavity
chresta philtriChpHead of nasal filter
condylionMost posterior/superior point on the condyle of mandible
dacryondacPoint of junction of maxillary bone, lacrimal bone, and frontal bone
endocanthionEnPoint at which inner ends of upper and lower eyelids meet
exocanthion ExPoint at which outer ends of upper and lower eyelids meet
frontotemporalFtMost medial point on the temporal crest
glabellaG'Most prominent point in the median sagittal plane between the supraorbital ridges
gnathionGnPoint located perpendicular on mandibular symphysis midway between pogonion and menton
gonionGoMost posterior inferior point on angle of mandible. Can also be constructed by bisecting the angle formed by intersection of mandibular plane and ramus of mandible
key ridgesPosterior vertical portion and inferior curvature of left and right zygomatic bones
labial inferiorLiPoint denoting vermilion border of lower lip in midsagittal plane
labialis superiorLsPoint denoting vermilion border of upper lip
lower incisorL1Line connecting incisal edge and root apex of the most prominent mandibular incisor
mentonMeLowest point on mandibular symphysis
  soft tissue mentonMe′Lowest point on soft tissue over mandible
nasionNMost anterior point on frontonasal suture
  soft tissue nasionN′Point on soft tissue over nasion
odontaleHighest point on second vertebra
orbitaleOrMost inferior point on margin of orbit
opisthionOpMost posterior point of foramen magnum
pogonionPgMost anterior point of mandibular symphysis
  soft tissue pogonionPg′Soft tissue over pogonion
porionPoMost superior point of outline of external auditory meatus
  machine porionSuperior-most point of the image of the ear rod
posterior nasal spinePNSPosterior limit of bony palate or maxilla
pronasale PrnSoft tissue point on tip of nose
prosthion PrThe most inferior anterior point on the maxillary alveolar process between the central incisors
PT pointPTPoint at junction between Ptm and foramen rotundum
pterygomaxillary fissurePtmPoint at base of fissure where anterior and posterior wall meet. Anterior wall represents posterior surface of maxillary tuberosity
registration pointA reference point for superimposition of ceph tracings
sella SMidpoint of sella turcica
sphenoethmoidal sutureSEthe cranial suture between the sphenoid bone and the ethmoid bone
sella–nasion lineSN or S–NLine from sella to nasion
sella–nasion–A point angleSNA or S-N-AAverage of 82 degrees with +/- of 2 degrees
sella–nasion–B point angleSNB or S-N-BAverage of 80 degrees with +/- of 2 degrees
sublabialisSl
subnasale SnIn the midline, the junction where base of the columella of the nose meets the upper lip
stomion inferiusStiHighest midline point of lower lip
stomion superiusStsHighest midline point of upper lip
throat pointJunction of inferior border of mandible and throat
tragionT′Notch above the tragus of the ear where the upper edge of the cartilage disappears into the skin of the face
trichionTrMidline of hairline
upper incisorU1A line connecting the incisal edge and root apex of the most prominent maxillary incisor
xi pointXiAn approximate point for inferior alveolar foramen

Below is a list of cephalometric planes that are commonly used in different cephalometric analyses.
Cephalometric planePlane symbolDefinition
palatal planeANS-PNSThis plane is formed by connecting ANS to PNS and is used to measure the vertical tilt of maxilla
SN planeSN planeThis plane represents the anterior cranial base and is formed by projecting a plane from the sella-nasion line
Frankfort horizontal plane P-OrThis plane represents the habitual postural position of the head.
condylar planeCo-OrThis plane can be used as an alternate to Frankfort horizontal plane.
functional occlusal planeFOPThis plane passes is formed by drawing a line that touches the posterior premolars and molars.
Downs occlusal planeDOPThis plane is formed by bisecting the anterior incisors and the distal cusps of the most posterior in occlusion.
mandibular planeGo-GnThis plane is formed by connecting the point gonion to gnathion at the inferior border of the mandible.
facial planeN-PgThis vertical plane is formed by connecting nasion to pogonion as described in the Schudy analysis.
Bolton planeThis plane is formed by connecting the Bolton point to nasion. This plane includes the registration point and is part of the Bolton triangle.-

Classification of analyses

The basic elements of analysis are angles and distances. Measurements may be treated as absolute or relative, or they may be related to each other to express proportional correlations. The various analyses may be grouped into the following:
  1. Angular – dealing with angles,
  2. Linear – dealing with distances and lengths,
  3. Coordinate – involving the Cartesian or even 3-D planes,
  4. Arcial – involving the construction of arcs to perform relational analyses.
These in turn may be grouped according to the following concepts on which normal values have been based:
  1. Mononormative analyses: averages serve as the norms for these and may be arithmetical or geometrical. E.g. Bolton Standards.
  2. Multinormative: for these a whole series of norms are used, with age and sex taken into account, e.g. Bolton Standards.
  3. Correlative: used to assess individual variations of facial structure to establish their mutual relationships, e.g. the Sassouni arcial analysis.

    Cephalometric angles

According to the Steiner analysis:
SNA and SNB is important to determine what type of intervention is appropriate. These angles, however are influenced also by the vertical height of the face and a possible abnormal positioning of nasion. By using a comparative set of angles and distances, measurements can be related to one another and to normative values to determine variations in a patient's facial structure.

Analyses (analytic approaches) by various authors

Steiner analysis

developed Steiner Analysis in 1953. He used S–N plane as his reference line in comparison to FH plane due to difficulty in identifying the orbitale and porion. Some of the drawbacks of the Steiner analysis includes its reliability on the point nasion. Nasion as a point is known not to be stable due to its growth early in life. Therefore, a posteriorly positioned nasion will increase ANB and more anterior positioned nasion can decrease ANB. In addition, short S–N plane or steeper S–N plane can also lead to greater numbers of SNA, SNB and ANB which may not reflex the true position of the jaws compare to the cranial base. In addition, clockwise rotation of both jaws can increase ANB and counter-clockwise rotation of jaws can decrease ANB.
NameDescriptionNormalStandard Deviation
Skeletal-
SNA Sella-Nasion to A Point Angle82 degrees+/- 2
SNB Sella-Nasion to B Point Angle80 degrees+/- 2
ANB A point to B Point Angle2 degrees+/- 2
Occlusal Plane to SN SN to Occlusal Plane Angle14 degrees
Mandibular Plane SN to Mandibular Plane Angle32 degrees
Dental-
U1-NA Angle between upper incisor to NA line22 degrees
U1-NA Distance from upper incisor to NA line4 mm
L1-NB Angle between lower incisor to NB line25 degrees
L1-NB Distance from lower incisor to NB line4 mm
U1-L1 Upper incisor to lower incisor angle130 degrees
L1-Chin Also known as Holdaway Ratio. It states that chin prominence should be as far away as the farthest point of the lower incisor should be. An ideal distance is 2mm from Pogonion to NB line and L1 to NB line.4mm
Soft tissue
S LineLine formed by connecting Soft Tissue Pogonion and middle of an S formed by lower border of the noseIdeally, both lips should touch the S line

Wits analysis

The name Wits is short for Witwatersrand, which is a University in South Africa. Jacobsen in 1975 published an article called "The Wits appraisal of jaw disharmony". This analysis was created as a diagnostic aid to measure the disharmony between the AP degree. The ANB angle can be affected by multitude of environmental factors such as:
  1. Patient's age where ANB has tendency to reduced with age
  2. Change in position of nasion as pubertal growth takes place
  3. Rotational effect of jaws
  4. Degree of facial Prognathism
Therefore, it measured the AP positions of the jaw to each other. This analysis calls for 1. Drawing an Occlusal Plane through the overlapping cusps of Molars and Premolars. 2. Draw perpendicular lines connecting A point and B Point to the Occlusal Plane 3. Label the points as AO and BO.
In his study, Jacobsen mentioned that average jaw relationship is -1mm in Males and 0mm in Females . Its clinical significance is that in a Class 2 skeletal patient, AO is located ahead of BO. In skeletal Class 3 patient, BO is located ahead of AO. Therefore, the greater the wits reading, the greater the jaw discrepancy.
Drawbacks to Wits analysis includes:

Bjork analysis

This analysis by Arne Bjork was developed in 1947 based on 322 Swedish boys and 281 conscripts. He introduced a facial polygon which was based on 5 angles and is listed below. Bjork also developed the 7 structural signs which indicates the mandibular rotator type.
developed his analysis in the year 1966. In this analysis, he tried describing the lower incisor position in relation to the basal bone and the face. This is described by 3 planes. He used Frankfurt Horizontal plane as a reference line.
NameDescriptionNormal
Tweed facial triangle
IMPA Angle between long axis of lower incisor and mandibular plane angle90 +/- 5
FMIA Frankfort mandibular incisor angle65
FMA Frankfort mandibular plane angle25
Total180 -

Jarabak analysis

Analysis developed by Joseph Jarabak in 1972. The analysis interprets how the craniofacial growth may affect the pre and post treatment dentition. The analysis is based on 5 points: Nasion, Sella, Menton, Go and Articulare . They together make a Polygon on a face when connected with lines. These points are used to study the anterior/posterior facial height relationships and predict the growth pattern in the lower half of the face. Three important angles used in his analysis are: 1. Saddle Angle - Na, S, Ar 2. Articular Angle - S-Ar-Go, 3. Gonial Angle - Ar-Go-Me.
In a patient who has a clockwise growth pattern, the sum of 3 angles will be higher than 396 degrees. The ratio of posterior height to Anterior Height is 56% to 44%. Therefore, a tendency to open bite will occur and a downward, backward growth of mandible will be observed.

Ricketts analysis

Landmark NameLandmark SymbolDescription
Upper MolarA6Point on the occlusal plane located perpendicular to the distal surface of the crown of the upper first molar
Lower MolarB6Point on the occlusal plane located perpendicular to the distal surface of the crown of the lower first molar
CondyleCIA point on the condyle head in contact with and tangent to the ramus plane
Soft TissueDTPoint on the anterior curve of the soft tissue chin tangent to the esthetic plane or E line
Center of CraniumCCPoint of intersection of the basion-nasion plane and the facial axis
Points from Plane at PterygoidCFThe point of intersection of the pterygoid root vertical to the Frankfort horizontal plane
PT PointPTJunction of Pterygomaxillary fissure and the foramen rotundum.
CondyleDCPoint in the center of the condyle neck along the Ba–N plane
NoseEnPoint on the soft tissue nose tangent to the esthetic plane
GnathionGnPoint of intersection between the line between pogonion and menton
GonionGoPoint of intersection between ramus plane and mandibular plane
SuprapogonionPMPoint at which shape of symphysis mentalis changes from convex to concave
PogonionPogMost anterior point of the mandibular symphysis
CephalometricPOIntersection of facial plane and corpus axis
T1 PointTIPoint of intersection of the occlusal and facial planes
Xi PointXi
Name of PlanesSymbol
Frankfort HorizontalFH PlaneThis plane extends from porion to orbitale
Facial PlaneThis plane extends from nasion to pogonion
Mandibular PlanePlane extending from gonion to gnathion
PtV This line is drawn through PTM and is perpendicular to the FH plane
Basion-Nasion PlanePlane extending from basion to nasion
Occlusal PlaneOcclusal plane through molars and premolars contact
A-Pog LineA line extending from Point A to pogonion
E-LineThis line extends from the tip of soft tissue nose to soft tissue Pogonion

The Rickett analysis also consists of following measurements
NameDescriptionNormalStandard Deviation
Facial AxisAngle between Pt/Gn and the line N/Ba90+/- 3.5
Facial AngleAngle between the line FL and FH89+/- 3
ML/FHAngle between the line FH and the line ML24+/- 4.5
ConvexityDistance between Pog/N and A0+/- 2
Li-A-PogDistance between Pog/A and Li1+/- 2
Ms-PtVProjection on the line FH of the distance between the markers PT/Ms-d18
ILi-/A-PogDistance between the line Pog/A and the line Lia/Li22+/- 4
Li-ELDistance between the line EL and Li−2+/- 2

Sassouni analysis

This analysis, developed by Viken Sassouni in 1955, states that in a well proportioned face, the following four planes meet at the point O. The point O is located in the posterior cranial base.This method categorized the vertical and the horizontal relationship and the interaction between the vertical proportions of the face.The planes he created are:
  1. Supraorbital plane
  2. Palatal plane
  3. Occlusal plane
  4. Mandibular plane
The more parallel the planes, the greater the tendency for deep bite and the more non-parallel they are the greater the tendency for open bite. Using the O as the centre, Sassouni created the following arcs
This analysis was developed by Egil Peter Harvold in 1974. This analysis developed standards for the unit length of the maxilla and mandible. The difference between the unit length describes the disharmony between the jaws. It is important to know that location of teeth is not taken into account in this analysis.
The maxillary unit length is measured from posterior border of mandibular condyle to ANS. The mandibular unit length is measured from posterior border of mandibular condyle to Pogonion. This analysis also looks at the lower facial height which is from upper ANS to Menton.

McNamara analysis

COGS analysis (cephalometrics for orthognathic surgery)

This analysis was developed by Charles J. Burstone when it was presented in 1978 in an issue of AJODO. This was followed by Soft Tissue Cephalometric Analysis for Orthognathic Surgery in 1980 by Arnette et al. In this analysis, Burstone et al. used a plane called horizontal plane, which was a constructed of Frankfurt Horizontal Plane.
Landmark NameLandmark SymbolDescriptionNormal
Cranial Base
Posterior Cranial BaseAR-PTM
Anterior Cranial BAsePTM-N
Vertical Skeletal and Dental
Upper Anterior Facial HeightN-ANS
Lower Anterior Facial HeightANS-GN
Upper Posterior Facial HeightPNS-N
Mandibular Plane AngleMP-HP
Upper Anterior Dental HeightU1-NF
Lower Anterior Dental HeightL1-MP
Upper Posterior Dental HeightUM-NF
Lower Posterior Dental HeightLM-MP
Maxilla and Mandible
Maxillary LengthPNS-ANS
Mandibular Ramus Length
Mandibular Body Length
Chin DepthB-PG
Gonial AngleAR-GO-GN
Dental Relationships
Occlusal PlaneOP-HP
Upper incisors inclinationU1-NF
Lower incisors inclinationL1/GO-ME
Wits AnalysisA-B/OP

Computerised cephalometrics is the process of entering cephalometric data in digital format into a computer for cephalometric analysis. Digitization is the conversion of landmarks on a radiograph or tracing to numerical values on a two- dimensional coordinate system, usually for the purpose of computerized cephalometric analysis. The process allows for automatic measurement of landmark relationships. Depending on the software and hardware available, the incorporation of data can be performed by digitizing points on a tracing, by scanning a tracing or a conventional radiograph, or by originally obtaining computerized radiographic images that are already in digital format, instead of conventional radiographs. Computerized cephalometrics offers the advantages of instant analysis; readily available race-, sex- and age-related norms for comparison; as well as ease of soft tissue change and surgical predictions. Computerized cephalometrics has also helped in eliminating any surgeon inadequacies as well as making the process less time consuming.
The first medically certified automated cephalometric analysis of 2D lateral cephalometric radiographs by Artificial intelligence was brought to market in November 2019.

Digitization

Computer processing of cephalometric radiographs uses a digitizer. Digitization refers to the process of expressing analog information in a digital form. A digitizer is a computer input device which converts analog information into an electronic equivalent in the computer's memory. In this treatise and its application to computerized cephalometrics, digitization refers to the resolving of headfilm landmarks into two numeric or digital entities – the X and Y coordinate. 3D analysis would have third quantity – Z coordinate.

Superimposition

Cephalometric radiographs can be superimposed on each other to see the amount of growth that has taken place in an individual or to visualize the amount of movement of teeth that has happened in the orthodontic treatment. It is important to superimpose the radiograph on a stable anatomical structures. Traditionally, this process has been done by tracing and superimposing on cranial landmarks. One of the most common used methods of superimposing is called the Structural Method.

Structural method

According to American Board of Orthodontics, this method is based on series of study performed by Arne Bjork, Birte Melsen and Donald Enlow. This method divides superimposition in three categories: Cranial base superimposition, maxillary superimposition and mandibular superimposition. Some of the important landmarks in each category is listed below as per the structural method.

Cranial base superimposition