Cephalometric analysis is the study of the dental

Dentistry

Dentistry is the branch of medicine that is involved in the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. Dentistry is widely considered...

 and skeletal

Skeleton

The skeleton is the body part that forms the supporting structure of an organism. There are two different skeletal types: the exoskeleton, which is the stable outer shell of an organism, and the endoskeleton, which forms the support structure inside the body.In a figurative sense, skeleton can...

 relationships in the head

Head

In anatomy, the head of an animal is the rostral part that usually comprises the brain, eyes, ears, nose and mouth . Some very simple animals may not have a head, but many bilaterally symmetric forms do....

. It is frequently used by dentist

Dentist

A dentist, also known as a 'dental surgeon', is a doctor that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity. The dentist's supporting team aides in providing oral health services...

s, often orthodontists in particular, as a treatment planning tool.

Two of the more popular methods of analysis used in orthodontology are the Steiner analysis, named after Cecil C. Steiner

Cecil C. Steiner

Cecil C. Steiner was a dentist and one of Edward H. Angle's first students in 1921.He developed a form of cephalometric analysis, presented in 1953, referred to as the Steiner method of analysis.-Awards:...

, and the McNamara analysis, named after James A. McNamara

James A. McNamara

James A. McNamara, Jr. is an American-trained board certified orthodontist well known for his contribution to the field of cephalometry with the form of cephalometric analysis that bears his name.-Training:...

. There are other methods as well, including the Ricketts analysis.

Cephalometric radiographs

Cephalometric

Cephalometry

Cephalometry is the measurement of the human head by imaging, traditionally from x-ray films.-Dentistry:Cephalometric analysis is used in dentistry, and especially in orthodontics, to gauge the size and spacial relationships of the teeth, jaws, and cranium...

 analysis depends on cephalometric radiography

Radiography

Radiography is the use of X-rays to view a non-uniformly composed material such as the human body. By using the physical properties of the ray an image can be developed which displays areas of different density and composition....

 to study relationships between bony

Osseous tissue

Osseous tissue, or bone tissue, is the major structural and supportive connective tissue of the body. Osseous tissue forms the rigid part of the bone organs that make up the skeletal system.-Formation:Bone tissue is a mineralized connective tissue...

 and soft tissue

Soft tissue

In anatomy, the term soft tissue refers to tissues that connect, support, or surround other structures and organs of the body, not being bone. Soft tissue includes tendons, ligaments, fascia, skin, fibrous tissues, fat, and synovial membranes , and muscles, nerves and blood vessels .It is sometimes...

 landmarks

Landmark point

In morphometrics, landmark point or shortly landmark is a point in a shape object in which correspondences between and within the populations of the object are preserved. In other disciplines, landmarks may be known as vertices, anchor points, control points, sites, profile points, 'sampling'...

 and can be used to diagnose facial growth abnormalities prior to treatment, in the middle of treatment to evaluate progress or at the conclusion of treatment to ascertain that the goals of treatment have been met.

Cephalometric landmarks

The following are important cephalometric landmarks:
Sella (after sella turcica

Sella turcica

-External links:*...

)
Nasion
A-point
B-point
Pogonion
Menton
Gnathion
Gonion
Porion
Orbitale
Bolton

Cephalometric angles

According to the Steiner's analysis:
ANB (A point, Nasion, B point)- indicates whether the skeletal relationship between the maxilla and mandible is a normal (skeletal class I relationship (+ 2 degrees), a skeletal Class II (+4 degrees or more), or skeletal class III (0 or negative).
SNA (sella, Nasion, A point)- indicates whether or not the maxilla is normal, prognathic, or retrognathic.
SNB (sella, Nasion, B point)- indicates whether or not the mandible is normal, prognathic, or retrognathic.
SNA and SNB is important to determine what type of intervention (on maxilla, mandible or both) is appropriate.
These angles, however are influenced also by the vertical height of the face and a possible abnormal positioning of Nasion.

Cephalometric Software

Cephalometric software is used to help calculate the angles and measurements for cephalometric analyses. An example of such software is cephX which provides an internet based platform for cephalometric analysis. An example of a company that provides cephalometric analyses without purchasing any software is www.Cephanalysis.com.