AIM: the aim of this study was to quantify the real variation of cephalometric measurements obtained from lateral cephalometric radiographs using a natural head posture (NHP) and a conventional technique, positioning Frankfurt Horizontal Plane parallel to the horizontal. A facial analysis was performed in order to compare postural measurements, facial profile and antero-posterior measurements. METHODS: fifty lateral cephalometric radiographs from 25 females and 25 males composed the sample, mean aged 21 years. The cephalometric measurements were divided into three groups: 4 postural measurements, 3 profile measurements, and 9 antero-posterior measurements. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: no statistically significant differences were found for females, while males showed statistically significant differences for sella-nasion (SN), Frankfurt, and mandibular planes in relation to true vertical line (T). For antero-posterior and facial profile measurements, no statistically significant differences were found in both groups. A correlation of the SN/V (sella-nasion/true vertical line) plane with the palatal and Frankfurt planes was found for both techniques, except when conventional lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken from males. No correlation was found between the SN/V base of the skull plane and the mandibular plane in both positions.
Cephalometry; Orthodontics; Radiography
