Comparison of Three Horizontal Reference Planes in the Cephalometric Assessment of Upper Incisor Angulation in an Adult Nigerian Population.

Abstract

Background: The maxillary incisors play a very important role in the dentofacial aesthetics of an individual. Previous studies carried out in the Nigerian population to develop normative values for maxillary incisor angulation were conducted with the Frankfort plane as the only horizontal reference plane. This study sought to develop normative values for maxillary incisor angulation using three horizontal reference planes, namely: the sella-nasion, Frankfort, and palatal planes.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted using the lateral cephalometric radiographs of 74 young adults aged 18-25years, normal occlusion and balanced facial profiles. The lateral cephalometric radiographs were manually traced and the mean values for the upper incisor to the sella-nasion, Frankfort and mandibular planes were recorded. Twenty radiographs were randomly selected and retraced after one week. 

Results: The mean age of the respondents was 21.12 +2.1 years, comprising 27 males (36.4%) and 47 females 63.4%. The mean values for 0 0 0 0 the upper incisor angulation to the Sella-nasion, Frankfort and palatal planes recorded in this study were 116.38 +3.84 , 122.29 +5.9 and 0 120.20 + 5.9 , respectively. There were no significant gender differences recorded. The upper incisor angulation to the palatal plane recorded the highest level of correlation (r=0.88,p< .001). after twenty radiographs were randomly retraced

Conclusion: The mean values for the upper incisor angulation to the Sella-nasion, Frankfort, and palatal planes for the young adult 0 0 0 0 0 population studied were 116.38 +3.84 , 122.29 +5.9 and 120.20 + 5.9 , respectively. These values will be of great value in orthodontic treatment planning for young adult Nigerians