Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if T1-weighted 3D magnetic resonance images performed at 3.0 Tesla could be used to conduct routine orthodontic cephalometric analysis.

Methods: Three cranial imaging methods were compared using sixteen non-growing subjects (10 male and 6 female) who were not claustrophobic, did not have any metallic restorations on the distal of first molars, had no medical implants and the female subjects were not pregnant. Sagittal cranial images were produced by three methods: (1) a digital lateral cephalometric (LC) radiograph (Orthophos XG Plus, SironaTM, Bensheim, Germany), (2) a 12-inch FOV cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) (Newtom™ 3G, AFP Imaging, Elmsford, New York, USA), and (3) a magnetic resonance (MR) scan (TIM/Trio, SiemensTM Medical Solutions, Erlangen, Germany). Standard orthodontic cephalometric landmarks were digitized using DolphinTM Imaging software (version 10.5). The digitized landmarks were selected to enable calculation of 23 Ricketts and 11 Steiner analysis measurements. The Kruskal-Wallis rank test and the Mann-Whitney U-test were used to determine if statistically significant differences could be found between the mean LC, CBCT and MR image measurements at a significance level of α=0.05.

Results: There were no statistically significant differences between mean LC, CBCT and MRI measurements for Ricketts and Steiner analyses.

Conclusions: This study suggests that lateral cephalometric analysis can be performed using MRI scans without ionizing radiation. Lateral cephalometric measurements made using MRI scans are identical to those made using 2D digital lateral cephalometric radiographs and to those made using CBCT scans.

LLU Discipline

Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics

Department

Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics

School

Graduate Studies

First Advisor

V. Leroy Leggitt

Second Advisor

Joseph M. Caruso

Third Advisor

James R. Farrage

Fourth Advisor

Jay S. Kim

Fifth Advisor

Roland D. W. Neufeld

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Level

M.S.

Year Degree Awarded

2008

Date (Title Page)

9-2008

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Cephalometry -- methods -- dissertations; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Comparative Study; Radiography, Dental -- methods; Radiography, Dental, Digital -- methods; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; Orthodontics, Corrective.

Type

Thesis

Page Count

xiv; 88

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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