Date of Award

2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Dentistry

Department

Orthodontics

College

College of Dental Medicine

First Advisor

Timothy J. Tremont

Second Advisor

Loring Ross

Third Advisor

Kinon Lecholop

Fourth Advisor

Ildeu Andrade

Fifth Advisor

Pinar Emecen-Huja

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to (1) assess the ability of orthodontists and surgeons to accurately orient pretreatment lateral facial photographs, lateral cephalographs, and lateral CBCT facial images relative to a clinically determined natural head orientation (NHO) and (2) to assess any difference between orthodontists and oral surgeons in orienting images to clinically determined NHO and relative to their years in practice. Methods: Lateral facial photographs, lateral cephalographs, and lateral CBCT images of four(4) pretreatment patients were selected, and rotated in 1° increments from -3° to +4°. A total of 96 images were evaluated by 79 orthodontists and 43 oral surgeons via survey. Survey participants were asked to select which image in each image group best represented NHO. Results: Seventy-eight percent (78.1 %) of all respondents were able to identify and agree on a NHO across all types of images studied that also agrees with the clinical impression of NHO within± 2°; however, the entire range of images was selected as representing NHO within each image type. The results indicate there were statistical differences between CBCT & photographs (p<0.05) and cephalographs(p<0.05), but not photographs and cephalographs. The difference between CBCTs and both photographs and cephalographs was approximately 1.2°. A statistically significant difference was found but between orthodontists and oral surgeons (p<0.05) for photographs, but the difference was 0.4°. There were some differences between certain groups by years of practice (p <0.05), but those differences were less than 1°. There was a statistically significant difference by those respondents with 31 + years of experience, but, again, the difference was less than 1°. Conclusions: Most orthodontists and oral surgeons can reliably orient lateral facial photographs, lateral cephalographs, and lateral CBCT images within± 2° relative to a clinically determined NHO. There was significant difference in the ability to orient lateral CBCT images.

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