Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Orthodontic cephalometric technique is an important means for clinical diagnosis and treatment plan design of oral and maxillofacial deformities. Accurate cephalometry can offer reliable evidence for the treatment. Three-dimensional CT reconstruction technology can rebuild a clear, three-dimensional, real craniofacial anatomy.
OBJECTIVE: To ssummarize the clinical application of three-dimensional reconstructed CT cephalometry in dental orthodontics, and to compare with traditional X-ray cephalometry.
METHODS: A computer-based online retrieval of PubMed database (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/) and CNKI database (http://dlib3.cnki.net/KNS50/) from January 1996 to September 2010 was performed by the first author, using “three-dimensional cephalometry, cephalometric measurements” in English and in Chinese as the search key words. Studies regarding orthodontic cephalometric measurements were included, while duplicate or out-dated studies were excluded.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Totally 114 paper were screened out by computer, 27 documents of which were involved for analysis according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Three-dimensional CT reconstruction technology as an ideal method of cephalometry, has been widely used in clinical practice due to the high efficiency, accuracy and fast speed. Three-dimensional reconstruction, measurement and analysis system of soft and hard tissues will eventually replace the existing two-dimensional cephalometric analysis system with its powerful advantages.