EVALUATION OF MALOCC LUSION BY USING PANO RAMIC RADIOGRAPHS

Orthodontics is a specialized branch dealing with the assessment and treatment of malocclusion. This discrepancy in dento-skeletal structure may be due to disproportionate sizes of jaws or tooth material and arch length deficiency or presence of both. To assess the presence of malocclusion various modalities can be use which includes clinical examination, case history,   photographs, study models and various type of radiographs like IOPA, OPG, and lateral cephalograms. Radiology has long played a critical role in the treatment planning of orthodontic patients. Since the discovery of lateral cephalogram, it has played a distinct role to assess the craniofacial growth and presence of malocclusion. This study included 60 patients out of which 30 males and 30 females between the age group of 18-25 years. The patients with malocclusion after the completion of growth were included in this study. Patients with missing any first molar, periodontaly compromised tooth, restorated tooth or any history of orthodontic treatment were excluded in this study. Tracing was done on acetate paper using a 0.5 mm lead pencil. Angular measurements were made to 0.5accuracy. Measurements on panoramic radiographs were made for both the left and right sides to overcome any magnification errors.