Common orthodontic problems such as crossbite, overbite, underbite, and crowding of the teeth can have a negative impact on a person’s physical appearance, dental function, and overall self esteem. To make a diagnosis and plan treatment, orthodontists currently take multiple x-ray images of the entire skull before, during and after orthodontic treatment. Part of the skull, the cranial base, is used as a stable reference for determining the position and orientation of the jaws and teeth when planning treatment changes. While the amount of radiation is small, x-rays of the whole skull taken multiple times during treatment can be a concern, especially for pediatric patients who are generally more susceptible to the harmful effects of ionizing radiation than adults.
A recent study published in the European Journal of Orthodontics, suggests that another approach using non-radiographic 3D dental photogrammetry could offer accurate dental and facial measurements based on using the eyes and natural head orientation as references rather than the cranial base.
Mohamed Masoud, director of Orthodontics in the Department of Developmental Biology at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, along with his research team studied 180 females and 200 males between the ages of 18 and 35 using 3D facial and dental imaging to produce an adult sample with near ideal occlusion and a pleasing facial appearance. The goal was to provide reference values that can aid practitioners in determining the relative position and orientation of a patient’s dental and facial structures without exposing the cranium to radiation. A follow-up study published in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics last June validated the method on an adult orthodontic population showing that the proposed method led orthodontists to the same treatment plan radiographic records.
“The method developed uses 3D photographic images to capture the face and teeth and use the eyes as a reference instead of the cranium. This allows the orthodontist to limit the x-ray exposure to the area of interest which is just the teeth and surrounding bone allowing sensitive parts of the body like the brain, and eyes to be avoided and shielded during the radiographic exposure,” Dr. Masoud said.
Dr. Masoud and his research team are currently working with local Boston schools to develop age and race specific 3D photographic standards to diagnose and plan pediatric orthodontic patients.
“These standards are still being developed and tested,” Masoud added. “Our hope is that these new 3D facial and dental imaging methods will eventually become the standard of care for orthodontic diagnosis which will reduce the radiographic burden of the specialty.”
