Direct 3D cephalometric analysis performed on CBCT

Cone Beam Computed Tomography produces distortion-free and accurate images of the craniofacial anatomy, and can be considered as a useful instrument to perform a correct diagnosis and treatment using a cephalometric analysis. Now a days the 3D cephalometric analysis are made by adapting on 3D what was born on 2D, so it can be necessary to find a new technique that was born directly on 3D. Sixty-five Ricketts’ first skeletal classes were chosen in an archive of 700 CBCT acquisitions. 3 easily repeatable reference planes were found on each case and then 15 points were selected on the skull, for a total of 18 cephalometric points. Each point of these 65 patients creates a cloud of points that could represent the range of normality in the 3D space. The coordinates of each analyzed point presented a standard deviation between 0, 00 and 5, 64. This range of values may be considered representative for the first skeletal class. Authors agree that further studies are needed but the Direct 3D cephalometric analysis may be considered a new easy, precise and rapid way to reach a correct diagnosis and treatment with a cephalometric analysis born directly on 3D.