Читать книгу Cephalometry in Orthodontics - Katherine Kula - Страница 5

PREFACE

Successful orthodontic treatment of a patient depends on accurate diagnosis and treatment planning. The purpose of this book is to provide an updated use of clinical cephalometrics, an important part of diagnosis and treatment planning. An effort was made to minimize esoteric parameters that are not frequently used in clinical orthodontics and to introduce and broaden the aspects of the role of cephalometrics in diagnosis and treatment planning.

Currently, clinical orthodontics is transitioning from the two-dimensional (2D) world to the three-dimensional (3D) world. The use of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) has changed from a rather myopic view that the use of 3D CBCTs could be unethical to a far broader acceptance. This has happened not only because of radiation and cost reduction but also as a result of research showing the benefits of 3D CBCTs. The unknown became the known. As equipment starts to break down, the clinician also evaluates the cost and benefit of new equipment and what his or her technologically savvy market expects. However, 2D cephalometrics is still the standard for clinical orthodontics, although many practices and orthodontic programs currently take 3D CBCTs. In reality, many practices and orthodontic programs globally are using 2D cephalometric measures with the 3D CBCTs. Thus, 2D cephalometrics is still very pertinent to patient treatment.

In order to teach cephalometrics, some history of cephalometrics is necessary but not to the degree that clinicians become lost in it. Cephalometric software programs make a plethora of analyses available for use because many clinicians do not restrict their analysis to those of individual treatment camps. Indeed, many of the cephalometric analyses are based on research or writings of multiple authors. In order to teach cephalometrics, both 2D and 3D cephalometry with their advantages and limitations need to be discussed, not as a philosophy but related to the craniofacial structures and their relationships. As research and product development increase, use of 3D measures might negate the use of 2D measures.

The addition of 3D CBCTs to cephalometry presents another dimension to the identification of skeletal and soft tissue landmarks. The transverse dimension is inherently integrated with the lateral dimension and is available for almost instant review without the viewer having to stitch separate images together. The internal structures of the face, skull, and airways can be reviewed for structural abnormalities and pathologies. The internal potentially driving structures of facial morphology can be viewed and measured more precisely in 3D. The authors integrate these possibilities with cephalometry and present currently evolving concepts and processes within cephalometry that the clinician needs to be aware of. Cephalometry, a measure of straight lines and angles of the hard and soft tissue of the face and cranium, is evolving into measures of areas and volumes that will need to be interpreted for clinical decisions and evaluation of outcomes. However, clinicians need to understand 2D cephalometry to be able to apply it better in 3D cephalometry.

Acknowledgments

Our sincere appreciation to our administrative assistant, Shannon Wilkerson, for providing assistance with typing and copying as well as allowing us to focus on our writing by running interference; to the clinical supervisor and dental assistants, Gayle Massa, Brenda McClarnon, Darlene Arnold, Shelley Pennington, and all the others, who helped us with patient records; and to the business office supervisor and other personnel, Monica Eller, Karen Vibbert, and others, for helping with patient contacts.

Note on Terminology

The hyphenation standards for cephalometric terms and landmarks used in the literature are not consistent, and many publications rely on jargon that is not universally accepted. For the sake of consistency and understanding in this book, hyphens are only used when referring to angles or landmarks that require the hyphen for clarity. Every effort has been made to remove unnecessary jargon and use clinically relevant terms and landmarks.