Determining the Correlation amount of Ordinary and Digital Cephalometric lateral Radiography in angular Measurements by using Dolphin Imaging 10 software

Cephalometric lateral radiography is an important paraclinical tool in diagnosing and treatment design of skeletaldental malocclusions. Objective of this study is to determine accuracy amount of measurements of cephalometry in two types of digital and ordinary graphy to specify the more beneficial method having more accuracy. In this descriptive-analytical study samples include digital and ordinary lateral cephalometric radiographic images of 8 human dried skulls. In this study for every skull one digital and one ordinary image was obtained. 16 cephalometric landmarks and 12 angular measurements in both digital and ordinary images by Dolphin Imaging 10 software by three observers (2 persons general dentist and 1 person orthodontic specialist) were measured and analyzed. For testing repeatability all measurements were again measured one month later by three observers and by using Pearson correlation coefficient were calculated. For comparing two methods paired sample T-test was used. Results obtained showed, among three observers statistical difference about measuring angles in ordinary and digital lateral cephalometry radiography (p>0.05). Repeatability correlation coefficient (Intra observer) of results after one month in all cases except SNA and saddle angles was above 0.83. Measurements obtained in two methods digital and ordinary compared with one-another showed that there was no significant difference observed (p>0.05). Also correlation coefficient among different measurements except for angles S (0.47), SNA (0.57) Pa-P1-In (0.76), SN-FH (0.73) in rest of cases correlation coefficient was above 0.87. Generally Both methods provided us with similar clinical results so for that digital cephalometry could be a reliable choice as a common diagnostic tool due to advantages like decreasing radiations receiving patients eliminating printing stages fixity chemical materials, stock, processing and quality gradation of digital images by computer as compared to ordinary images.