CEPHALOMETRIC TRACINGS

Pretreatment tracings must be in BLACK.

Interim tracings must be in BLUE.

Posttreatment tracings must be in RED.

Cephalograms must be accurately traced by the examinee using a small diameter (0.5 mm) pencil or pen for manual tracing, or using the computer's drawing tool to trace the anatomical outline of a digital radiograph. Computer generated tracings are acceptable if prepared as instructed in the Electronic Guidelines. Templates may be used to trace the tooth outlines. Anatomical structures should be identified accurately in preparation for the marking of landmarks and the drawing of reference lines. All measurements must be recorded on the Case Management Form and on the tracing (see examples). The soft tissue outline of the facial profile is required for each tracing.

Note: The Frankfort horizontal (FH) line that is drawn on the original (A) tracing should be transferred to the A1 and B tracings by superimposing on the cranial base and transferring the original Frankfort horizontal.

EXAMPLE 1
CEPHALOMETRIC TRACINGS

EXAMPLE 2
CEPHALOMETRIC TRACINGS

COMPOSITE TRACINGS

A minimum of three (3) composite tracings are required comparing cephalometric tracings:

1. Craniofacial

2. Maxillary

3. Mandibular

The three composites are manually traced by the examinee from the individual tracings of the cephalograms. A small diameter (0.5 mm) pencil or pen should be used. The three composites may be on three separate sheets of tracing acetate or they may all be arranged on one sheet. When there is an Interim set of records, separate composites of A and B tracings, A and A1 tracings and A1 and B tracings are required. Digital superimpositions are acceptable if prepared as instructed in the Electronic Guidelines.

EXAMPLE OF COMPOSITE TRACINGS

The following procedure for composite tracings is required:^{1. 2. 3.}

1. Craniofacial Composite - register on Sella with the best fit on the anterior cranial base bony structures (Planum Sphenoidum, Cribiform Plate, Greater Wings of the Sphenoid) to assess overall growth and treatment changes.

2. Maxillary Composite - register on the lingual curvature of the palate and the best fit on the maxillary bony structures to assess maxillary tooth movement.

3. Mandibular Composite - register on the internal cortical outline of the symphysis with the best fit on the mandibular canal to assess mandibular tooth movement and incremental growth of the mandible.

Examinees must use the same colors for the composite tracings that are used for the cephalometric tracings. Pretreatment tracings must be in BLACK. Interim tracings must be in BLUE. Posttreatment tracings must be in RED.

^1. Baumrind S, Miller D, Malthen R. The reliability of head film measurements 3. Tracing superimposition. AM J Orthod 1976; 70:617-644.

^2. Doppel D, Damon W, Joondeph D, Little R. An investigation of maxillary superimposition techniques using metallic implants. Am J Orthod Dentofac Orthop 1994; 105:161-168.

^3. Bjork A. Variations in the growth of the human mandible: longitudinal radiographic study by the implant method. J Dent Res 1963: 42:400-411.