Radiographic cephalometry of the facial profile.

Radiographic cephalometry is a biomorphological measuring method used in the prosthodontics as well, and for the facial profile analysis of persons with complete dentures. The purpose of this examination was to objectivize the facial esthetics in patients with complete dentures. The measurements were taken from LL X-ray radiographs obtained by the apparatus "Ortoceph 10" (Siemens, Bensheim, Germany). On the sample of 80 subjects a convexity angle of facial bone structures (N-A: A-Pg) and profile angle of soft facial tissue (ft-unt: lnt-ct) have been examined. The subjects were divided into a group with upper and lower complete dentures (20 males and 20 females) and a group with natural teeth of eugnatic characteristics (20 male and 20 female). The measurements were taken by standard protractor at 0.5% precision. The statistical analysis within and among groups has been made by F-test and t-test respectively. The results showed that the bone structure convexity angle span a range between 0 degree and 5.5 degrees (X = 2.5 degrees), and the facial profile angle between 139.5 degrees and 155 degrees (X = 149 degrees) in persons with complete dentures. In persons with natural teeth the values of bone structure convexity angles span a range between -0.5 degree and 4.8 degrees (X = 2 degrees), and the facial profile angle between 136 degrees and 155.5 degrees (X = 151 degrees). The results of tests proved that there were no statistically significant differences in examined variables between persons with natural teeth and those with complete dentures (p > 0.05). The conclusion is that clinical methods of determining the vertical and horizontal intermaxilliary relations used in the designing procedures of complete dentures were reliable enough in reconstruction of examined angles of soft and hard facial profile structures.