Panorama of the use of cephalometry by orthodontists in Rio Grande do Sul - South Brazil

Abstract

Cephalometric analysis is one of the approaches employed to diagnose and plan orthodontic treatment. Aiming to assess the manner orthodentists utilize cephalometry, questionnaires were sent to all specialists on Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics working in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, south Brazil. The results show that the exam is requested by the majority of the professionals (96.4%) as of the beginning of orthodontic treatments, and by only half (50.4%) at the end of treatment. Also, most orthodontists (88.3%) put great value to the patient profile in defining treatment strategies and only 19,2% reported checking the cephalograms they receive. The results afforded to conclude that most specialists on Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics working in Rio Grande do Sul request computerized cephalometric analysis according to the USP standard at the beginning of all orthodontic treatments, and considers patient profile as a determining factor in the choice of the approach to the treatment. Moreover, cephalograms produced by radiography centers are not mistrusted.