To Establish Cephalometric Floating Norms as a Guide toward Harmonious Cranial Individual Pattern among North Indian Adults

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Floating norms put us at ease while diagnosing and establishing a treatment plan for an individual with abnormal skeletal pattern. It uses the variability of the associations among appropriate cephalometric variables and later on the basis of a regression model by combination of both skeletal parameters which are sagittal and vertical and construct a harmony box which make diagnosis straightforward. This study aims to establish floating cephalometric norms for the describing individual craniofacial skeletal pattern among North Indian Adults as an additional diagnostic tool for orthodontic treatment planning. Materials and Methods The study includes North Indian adults in age range of 17 to 25 years. A total of 30 patients were selected and were subjected to cephalometric evaluation. Various angular measurements viz., SNB (sella-nasion-point B), NL-NSL (maxillary line-nasion sella line), ML-NSL (mandibular line-nasion sella line), N–S–Ba (nasion-sella-basion), SNA (sella-nasion-point A), and ML-NL (mandibular line-maxillary line) were considered for designing harmony box for North Indian adults. Results The results of the study were subjected to various statistical analyses. SNB served as the independent variable and NL-NSL, NSBa, ML-NSL, ML-NL, and SNA were made the dependent variable due to lesser R2 values in multiple regression analysis. Correlation between some of the variables, such as (SNA–SNB, ML-NSL–NL-NSL, and ML-NSL–ML-NL), in the present North Indian sample showed positive correlation among each other and were statistically significant (p = 0.000). When compared with the other similar studies done previously, least variability was seen with the Segner study and maximum variability was seen with Thilander’s study. Conclusion The analysis of the individual craniofacial pattern by means of floating norms appears to provide a helpful method in determining the parameters responsible for the skeletal disharmony, thus representing a viable option for additional diagnostic tool in orthodontic and orthopaedic/surgical treatment planning.