Baltic Dental and Maxillofacial Journal
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December, 2007, Vol. 9, No. 4

CONTENTS

SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES

Effect of cyclic 3´, 5´ adenosin-monophosphate on osteogenesis embryonic bone cultivated in tissue culture: an autoradiographic study
Edvitar Leibur, Elbi Lepp
99-104

The reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium by total blood in periodontitis patients and the aged
Juozas Zilinskas, Jonas Zekonis, Gediminas Zekonis, Aiste Valantiejiene, Rima Periokaite
105-108

Factors related to job satisfaction among Lithuanian dentists
Alina Puriene, Jadvyga Petrauskiene, Vilija Janulyte, Irena Balciuniene
109-113

Validity and reproducibility of cephalometric measurements obtained from digital photographs of analogue headfilms
Simonas Grybauskas, Irena Balciuniene, Janis Vetra
114-120

Finite element analysis of stresses in the maxillary and mandibular dental arches and TMJ articular discs during clenching into maximum intercuspation, anterior and unilateral posterior occlusion
Gaivile Pileicikiene, Algimantas Surna, Rimantas Barauskas, Rimas Surna, Algidas Basevicius
121-128

Dynamics of Pregnant Women's Oral Health Status during Preventive Programme
Ingrida Vasiliauskiene, Simona Milciuviene, Egle Bendoraitiene, Julija Narbutaite, Egle Slabsinskiene, Vilija Andruskeviciene
129-136

© 2007 Stomatologija

Stomatologija 2007; 9 (4): 114-120 196 KB

Validity and reproducibility of cephalometric measurements obtained from digital photographs of analogue headfilms

Simonas Grybauskas, Irena Balciuniene, Janis Vetra

Summary

The emerging market of digital cephalographs and computerized cephalometry is overwhelming the need to examine the advantages and drawbacks of manual cephalometry, meanwhile, small offices continue to benefit from the economic efficacy and ease of use of analogue cephalograms. The use of modern cephalometric software requires import of digital cephalograms or digital capture of analogue data: scanning and digital photography. The validity of digital photographs of analogue headfilms rather than original headfilms in clinical practice has not been well established. Digital photography could be a fast and inexpensive method of digital capture of analogue cephalograms for use in digital cephalometry. AIM. The objective of this study was to determine the validity and reproducibility of measurements obtained from digital photographs of analogue headfilms in lateral cephalometry. MATERIAL AND METHODS. Analogue cephalometric radiographs were performed on 15 human dry skulls. Each of them was traced on acetate paper and photographed three times independently. Acetate tracings and digital photographs were digitized and analyzed in cephalometric software. Linear regression model, paired t-test intergroup analysis and coefficient of repeatability were used to assess validity and reproducibility for 63 angular, linear and derivative measurements. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS. 54 out of 63 measurements were determined to have clinically acceptable reproducibility in the acetate tracing group as well as 46 out of 63 in the digital photography group. The worst reproducibility was determined for measurements dependent on landmarks of incisors and poorly defined outlines, majority of them being angular measurements. Validity was acceptable for all measurements, and although statistically significant differences between methods existed for as many as 15 parameters, they appeared to be clinically insignificant being smaller than 1 unit of measurement. Validity was acceptable for 59 of 63 measurements obtained from digital photographs, substantiating the use of digital photography for headfilm capture and computer-aided cephalometric analysis.

Key words: cephalometry, reproducibility, dry skull, acetate tracing, digital photography.

Received: 16 09 2007

Accepted for publishing: 21 12 2007


1Institute of Odontology, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
2Institute of Anatomy and Anthropology, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia

Simonas Grybauskas1 – D.D.S., MOS RCSEd
Irena Balciuniene1 – D.D.S., PhD, Dr. habil. med., prof.
Janis Vetra2 – M.D., Dr.habil.med., prof.

Address correspondence to Dr. Simonas Grybauskas, Institute of Odontology, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Zalgirio 115, Vilnius LT-08217, Lithuania.
E-mail: simonas.grybauskas@gmail.com