Reliability of Cephalometric Lines as Indicators for Dentoalveolar Stability in Forensic Identification: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Cephalometric superimposition is an accepted method that has long been considered helpful for evaluating the growth and displacement of facial bones during orthodontic treatment. However, the use of these cephalometric records for individual identification has not been reported until r...

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Main Authors: Gandikota Kartheek, Manyam Ravikanth, Varma D Praveen Kumar, Pasupuleti Swetha, S Supraja, Birajdar Smita
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited 2025-03-01
Series:Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
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Online Access:https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/20713/76726_CE[Ra1]_F(KR)_QC(AN_SL)_PF1(JY_OM_IS)_redo_PFA(IS)_PB(JY_IS)_PN(IS).pdf
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author Gandikota Kartheek
Manyam Ravikanth
Varma D Praveen Kumar
Pasupuleti Swetha
S Supraja
Birajdar Smita
author_facet Gandikota Kartheek
Manyam Ravikanth
Varma D Praveen Kumar
Pasupuleti Swetha
S Supraja
Birajdar Smita
author_sort Gandikota Kartheek
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Cephalometric superimposition is an accepted method that has long been considered helpful for evaluating the growth and displacement of facial bones during orthodontic treatment. However, the use of these cephalometric records for individual identification has not been reported until recently. The present study emphasises the use of lateral cephalographs as a forensic tool for the identification of individuals. Aim: To assess the alterations in the measurements of specific cephalometric lines observed in tracings obtained before and after orthodontic intervention. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Oral Pathology, Vishnu Dental College, Bhimavaram, West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh, India, from September 2024 to November 2024. Study involved 120 participants to assess the stability of cephalometric lines for forensic identification. Standardised lateral cephalometric radiographs, aligned with the Frankfort horizontal plane, were traced on acetate sheets by a single orthodontist to identify the chosen cephalometric lines: Pterygomaxillary fissure (Ptm)-nasion, basion-nasion, sella-nasion, Anterior Nasal Spine (ANS)-sella (anterior cranial base length), Frankfort Horizontal (FH), Posterior Nasal Spine (PNS)-nasion (posterior maxillary height), ANS-nasion (anterior maxillary height), ANS-PNS (maxillary length) and sella-articulare (posterior cranial base length). Pre and post-treatment cephalometric measurements were analysed using a paired t-test. Statistical analysis, performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 26.0, deemed changes significant at p-value<0.05. To find significant differences, a paired t-test was used. Results: Among the 120 samples analysed, the gender distribution was equal, with 50% females and 50% males. The results showed no significant change in the measurements of ANS-sella, FH plane, PNS-nasion, ANS-nasion, ANS-PNS and Sella-articulare, with a p-value >0.05, indicating that skeletal and alveolar stability remained unchanged before and after orthodontic correction. Conclusion: The present study concludes that the ten reference lines taken can be used as reliable antemortem landmarks for personal identification. The present study is novel in the field of forensic dentistry and hence there is a need for further studies using a larger sample in order to establish a reliable forensic base.
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spelling doaj-art-33d4e71b781047f3b01fd305802e14f52025-08-20T03:08:56ZengJCDR Research and Publications Private LimitedJournal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research2249-782X0973-709X2025-03-01193111410.7860/JCDR/2025/76726.20713Reliability of Cephalometric Lines as Indicators for Dentoalveolar Stability in Forensic Identification: A Cross-sectional StudyGandikota Kartheek0Manyam Ravikanth1Varma D Praveen Kumar2Pasupuleti Swetha3S Supraja4Birajdar Smita5Associate Professor, Department of Oral Pathology, Vishnu Dental College, Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh, India.Professor and Head, Department of Oral Pathology, Vishnu Dental College, Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh, India.Professor, Department of Orthodontics, Vishnu Dental College, Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh, India.Professor, Department of Oral Pathology, Vishnu Dental College, Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh, India.Associate Professor, Department of Oral Pathology, Vishnu Dental College, Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh, India.Associate Professor, Department of Oral Pathology, Vishnu Dental College, Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh, India.Introduction: Cephalometric superimposition is an accepted method that has long been considered helpful for evaluating the growth and displacement of facial bones during orthodontic treatment. However, the use of these cephalometric records for individual identification has not been reported until recently. The present study emphasises the use of lateral cephalographs as a forensic tool for the identification of individuals. Aim: To assess the alterations in the measurements of specific cephalometric lines observed in tracings obtained before and after orthodontic intervention. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Oral Pathology, Vishnu Dental College, Bhimavaram, West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh, India, from September 2024 to November 2024. Study involved 120 participants to assess the stability of cephalometric lines for forensic identification. Standardised lateral cephalometric radiographs, aligned with the Frankfort horizontal plane, were traced on acetate sheets by a single orthodontist to identify the chosen cephalometric lines: Pterygomaxillary fissure (Ptm)-nasion, basion-nasion, sella-nasion, Anterior Nasal Spine (ANS)-sella (anterior cranial base length), Frankfort Horizontal (FH), Posterior Nasal Spine (PNS)-nasion (posterior maxillary height), ANS-nasion (anterior maxillary height), ANS-PNS (maxillary length) and sella-articulare (posterior cranial base length). Pre and post-treatment cephalometric measurements were analysed using a paired t-test. Statistical analysis, performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 26.0, deemed changes significant at p-value<0.05. To find significant differences, a paired t-test was used. Results: Among the 120 samples analysed, the gender distribution was equal, with 50% females and 50% males. The results showed no significant change in the measurements of ANS-sella, FH plane, PNS-nasion, ANS-nasion, ANS-PNS and Sella-articulare, with a p-value >0.05, indicating that skeletal and alveolar stability remained unchanged before and after orthodontic correction. Conclusion: The present study concludes that the ten reference lines taken can be used as reliable antemortem landmarks for personal identification. The present study is novel in the field of forensic dentistry and hence there is a need for further studies using a larger sample in order to establish a reliable forensic base.https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/20713/76726_CE[Ra1]_F(KR)_QC(AN_SL)_PF1(JY_OM_IS)_redo_PFA(IS)_PB(JY_IS)_PN(IS).pdfcephalometric superimpositionforensic identificationpost-treatment cephalograms
spellingShingle Gandikota Kartheek
Manyam Ravikanth
Varma D Praveen Kumar
Pasupuleti Swetha
S Supraja
Birajdar Smita
Reliability of Cephalometric Lines as Indicators for Dentoalveolar Stability in Forensic Identification: A Cross-sectional Study
Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
cephalometric superimposition
forensic identification
post-treatment cephalograms
title Reliability of Cephalometric Lines as Indicators for Dentoalveolar Stability in Forensic Identification: A Cross-sectional Study
title_full Reliability of Cephalometric Lines as Indicators for Dentoalveolar Stability in Forensic Identification: A Cross-sectional Study
title_fullStr Reliability of Cephalometric Lines as Indicators for Dentoalveolar Stability in Forensic Identification: A Cross-sectional Study
title_full_unstemmed Reliability of Cephalometric Lines as Indicators for Dentoalveolar Stability in Forensic Identification: A Cross-sectional Study
title_short Reliability of Cephalometric Lines as Indicators for Dentoalveolar Stability in Forensic Identification: A Cross-sectional Study
title_sort reliability of cephalometric lines as indicators for dentoalveolar stability in forensic identification a cross sectional study
topic cephalometric superimposition
forensic identification
post-treatment cephalograms
url https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/20713/76726_CE[Ra1]_F(KR)_QC(AN_SL)_PF1(JY_OM_IS)_redo_PFA(IS)_PB(JY_IS)_PN(IS).pdf
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AT varmadpraveenkumar reliabilityofcephalometriclinesasindicatorsfordentoalveolarstabilityinforensicidentificationacrosssectionalstudy
AT pasupuletiswetha reliabilityofcephalometriclinesasindicatorsfordentoalveolarstabilityinforensicidentificationacrosssectionalstudy
AT ssupraja reliabilityofcephalometriclinesasindicatorsfordentoalveolarstabilityinforensicidentificationacrosssectionalstudy
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