<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec><h3>Aims</h3><p>To evaluate the influence of the lateral cephalometric radiograph on orthodontists’ diagnosis and treatment planning decisions.</p></sec><sec><h3>Methods</h3><p>Five patients with full pre-treatment records were selected to represent a spectrum of malocclusions. The records were provided in a web-based questionnaire emailed to 510 Australian registered orthodontists. Participants were asked to formulate a diagnosis and treatment plan for a randomised patient case. The control group received a lateral cephalometric radiograph whilst the intervention group did not. The two groups’ diagnostic accuracy was determined by a comparison with the formative diagnoses determined by five senior academic orthodontists. Their diagnosis and treatment planning decisions were also compared.</p></sec><sec><h3>Results</h3><p>A comparison of the orthodontists’ diagnoses revealed that the lateral cephalometric radiograph did not lead to an increase in the assessment accuracy of dental (<italic>p</italic> = 0.797) and skeletal (<italic>p</italic> = 0.273) relationships. Further analysis using logistic regression showed that the orthodontists’ years of experience did not influence the accuracy of skeletal diagnosis (<italic>p</italic> = 0.177). A comparison between the orthodontists’ dental (<italic>p</italic> = 0.689) and skeletal (<italic>p</italic> = 0.321) determinations did not significantly differ between the two groups. An assessment of the vertical growth pattern (<italic>p</italic> = 0.656) was also unaffected by the omission of the lateral cephalometric radiograph. When the two groups considered treatment planning options, there were no statistically significant differences related to the treatment options of growth modification (<italic>p</italic> = 0.720), orthognathic surgery (<italic>p</italic> = 0.101), and/or an extraction decision (<italic>p</italic> = 0.840).</p></sec><sec><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Lateral cephalometric radiographs did not significantly influence orthodontists’ diagnosis. There was also little evidence to demonstrate the radiograph’s efficacy in treatment planning cases with no skeletal discrepancy or no significant labiolingual incisor movement planned.</p></sec></abstract>

AimsTo evaluate the influence of the lateral cephalometric radiograph on orthodontists’ diagnosis and treatment planning decisions.MethodsFive patients with full pre-treatment records were selected to represent a spectrum of malocclusions. The records were provided in a web-based questionnaire emailed to 510 Australian registered orthodontists. Participants were asked to formulate a diagnosis and treatment plan for a randomised patient case. The control group received a lateral cephalometric radiograph whilst the intervention group did not. The two groups’ diagnostic accuracy was determined by a comparison with the formative diagnoses determined by five senior academic orthodontists. Their diagnosis and treatment planning decisions were also compared.ResultsA comparison of the orthodontists’ diagnoses revealed that the lateral cephalometric radiograph did not lead to an increase in the assessment accuracy of dental (p = 0.797) and skeletal (p = 0.273) relationships. Further analysis using logistic regression showed that the orthodontists’ years of experience did not influence the accuracy of skeletal diagnosis (p = 0.177). A comparison between the orthodontists’ dental (p = 0.689) and skeletal (p = 0.321) determinations did not significantly differ between the two groups. An assessment of the vertical growth pattern (p = 0.656) was also unaffected by the omission of the lateral cephalometric radiograph. When the two groups considered treatment planning options, there were no statistically significant differences related to the treatment options of growth modification (p = 0.720), orthognathic surgery (p = 0.101), and/or an extraction decision (p = 0.840).ConclusionLateral cephalometric radiographs did not significantly influence orthodontists’ diagnosis. There was also little evidence to demonstrate the radiograph’s efficacy in treatment planning cases with no skeletal discrepancy or no significant labiolingual incisor movement planned.

The effect of the lateral cephalometric radiograph on orthodontists’ diagnosis and treatment decisions: a double-blind, randomised controlled trial

Australasian Orthodontic Journal

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

AimsTo evaluate the influence of the lateral cephalometric radiograph on orthodontists’ diagnosis and treatment planning decisions.MethodsFive patients with...

The effect of the lateral cephalometric radiograph on orthodontists’ diagnosis and treatment decisions: a double-blind, randomised controlled trial

Published Online: Jul 20, 2021

Page range: 188 - 195

Received: May 01, 2018

Accepted: Sep 01, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21307/aoj-2020-070

© 2018 Scott Derek Currell et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.