Shettigar P, Shetty S, Naik R. D, Basavaraddi S. M, Patil A. K. A Comparative Evaluation of Reliability of an Android-based App and Computerized Cephalometric Tracing Program for Orthodontic Cephalometric Analysis. Biomed Pharmacol J 2019;12(1).

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Manuscript received on :29-Dec-2018
Manuscript accepted on :02-Feb-2019
Published online on: 11-03-2019

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Plagiarism Check: Yes
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Pavithra Shettigar¹, Shravan Shetty*², Roopak D. Naik¹, Shrinivas M. Basavaraddi¹ and Anand K. Patil¹

¹Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, S.D.M. College of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Dharwad, Karnataka-580009, India.

²Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka-576104, India.

Corresponding Author E-mail: shravan.shetty@manipal.edu

DOI : https://dx.doi.org/10.13005/bpj/1645

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the reliability of the android smartphone-based app OneCeph by comparing it with computer cephalometric tracing program Dolphin Imaging software. 50 cephalometric radiographs were randomly selected. On each cephalogram 20 landmarks were marked. 15 parameters indicating skeletal, dental and soft tissue parameters were selected and measured. The values obtained from Dolphin imaging software and the OneCeph app were compared with respect to the assessment of measurements of various parameters by paired t-test. It was observed that four parameters out of the fifteen showed significant differences between Dolphin imaging software and OneCeph app (p<0.05). For all the other parameters selected, no differences were observed between Dolphin and OneCeph digital methods and also there is a significant and positive correlation between the measures obtained from the Dolphin and OneCeph app for each landmark parameter. The results obtained by the OneCeph app showed most parameters are comparable with the Dolphin Imaging software. Therefore, it can be concluded that this app is reliable, user-friendly which facilitates its use by the clinician on a regular basis. This user-friendly OneCeph app can be utilized with sufficient accuracy for the cephalometric analysis of most of the measurements required in day-to-day clinical orthodontic practice.

Keywords

Cephalometry; Computers; Digital Radiography; Smartphone

Introduction

Cephalometric radiography is an essential tool in orthodontics which has been extensively used for orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning.¹ The conventional cephalometric analysis is carried out on acetate sheets in which the landmarks are marked and linear and angular measurements are determined. In spite of its extensive application in the field of orthodontics, it can be prone to systematic and random error and is also time consuming. Landmark identification, technical measurements and radiographic acquisition are the main sources of errors. Identification of landmarks, being the major source of errors, is dependent on the experience of the operator, definition of the landmark, density of the image and image sharpness. To add to this difficulty, it is a compression of a three-dimensional (3D) structure to a two-dimensional (2D) image.²

With the rapid advancement of computer radiography, manual method is gradually replaced by the digital method. Incidence of individual error can be minimized by using computers in treatment planning. It provides fast, precise and standardized evaluation with a high rate of reproducibility.²

Earlier in computerized radiography, the transfer of the analogue data to digital format was done using digitizer pads, digital cameras and scanners. Recent advancements have permitted us to use direct digital images, which provides instant image acquisition, facilitated image enhancement, reduction in radiation doses, image sharing and archiving and removal of technique-sensitive developing procedures. It also reduces potential errors due to operator fatigue.³

Recently there has been a rise in the usage of newer technology in all aspects of our lives. This is true for particularly for smartphones, which are not only meant for phone calls.⁴ An app is typically a small specialized program downloaded on to a smartphone device. It is accessed using a smartphone that connects to a library of apps via the internet and enables the users to find specific apps for their needs that serve their needs. When there is a need for quick reference or desktop computer access is not feasible, these smartphone apps are idea tools due to their speed, ability to update and portability.⁵

Not only there has been a rise in the use of smartphone apps but also there are apps which have been designed for medical and dental field. These apps have been one of the fastest developing categories of programs and they include various programs which are planned and designed specifically for orthodontics.⁶

Given the rise of computer-assisted cephalometric tracing programs usage in day-to-day orthodontic practice, there is a need to assess the accuracy of these commercially available cephalometric tracing software to allow the clinician to decide the suitable software and methods of analysis.³

Objective

The study was aimed to assess the reliability of the android mobile based app OneCeph by comparing it with the computer cephalometric tracing program Dolphin Imaging software.

Materials and Methods

Fifty cephalometric radiographs were taken randomly from patients who had consulted the Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics. Patients with unerupted or missing incisors, poor quality of radiographs, craniofacial deformity, and non-permanent dentition with impacted teeth were excluded to ensure the accurate and consistent measurement by minimizing the margin of error.

Minimizing Random Error

Each participant was positioned in the cephalostat with the sagittal plane at a right angle to the path of the X-rays with the Frankfort plane parallel to the floor and teeth in centric occlusion and the lips gently sealed. The radiographs were obtained with a magnification of 102.16%.

Calibration for Accuracy

The actual size of each image was calibrated in millimeters based on the known distance of 10 mm between the two fixed points on the cephalostat rod in the radiograph. This calibration was standardized for all the images. Landmark identification was performed manually on digital images and then stored in the Dolphin Imaging program.

All measurements taken on both devices were carried out by the same investigator. The brightness, magnification, contrast and zoom in/out could be enhanced by the observer in both the programs.

Procedure

The digital images (50 cephalograms) were imported into Dolphin Imaging software and the digital tracing was done using Dolphin Imaging Software Version 11.5 (Dolphin Imaging) (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Digital tracing with Dolphin Imaging Software.   Click here to view figure

Similarly, digital radiographs were transferred to the One Ceph app (version beta 1.1) on a Vivo v5 android phone and calibrated as described above and digital tracing was done (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Digital tracing with One Ceph app.   Click here to view figure

20 landmarks were marked on each cephalogram and 15 parameters indicating skeletal, dental and soft tissue parameters were selected and measured (Table 1).

Table 1: Landmark selection.

Statistical Analysis

The values for each analysis done by both Dolphin and OneCeph app was tabulated. All the values were then analyzed. Before the statistical analysis, the normality assumption was tested using Kolmogorov Smirnov test. It showed that the normality assumption had been met, so a parametric test (paired t test) was carried out. The values obtained from Dolphin imaging software and OneCeph app was compared with respect to assessment of measurements of various parameters by paired t-test.

Results

It is observed that the basal plane angle, SNB, L1 to MP, FMA showed significant differences between manual and digital methods (p<0.05). For all the other parameters selected, no differences were observed between Dolphin and OneCeph digital methods. (Table 2).

Table 2: Comparison of Dolphin and OneCeph methods with respect to assessment of measurements of various parameters by paired t test (*p<0.05).

A significant and positive correlation between the measures obtained from the Dolphin and OneCeph app for each landmark parameter was found by applying Karl Pearson’s method (Table 3).

Table 3: Correlation between the measurements obtained using Dolphin and OneCeph by applying Karl Pearson’s method. (*p<0.05).

Discussion

Lateral cephalometry is a vital tool to assess the relationship between skeletal, dental and soft tissue structures and also to identify the sagittal and vertical discrepancies. Progress in technology has resulted in increased usage of digital cephalometric analysis softwares, which have numerous benefits: reduction in radiation doses, improvement in the data storage and easy manipulation of images.⁷ Whether a digital or a smartphone app is selected, it should be precise, safe, reliable, and highly reproduceable.⁸ In the literature of orthodontics, there are many researches which test the reproducibility and reliability   of the Dolphin Imaging software. They have proven to be reliable and more frequently used than other digital cephalometric imaging software.^8,9 The present study compares the reliability of the cephalometric app OneCeph with the Dolphin Imaging software.

The cephalometric software programs can be either completely automated or semiautomated.¹⁰ This study used semiautomated software. Initially manual location of landmarks is done and then the cephalometric analysis was performed by the computer system. This leads to lesser measurement errors than the conventional (manual) cephalometric analysis. Overall, by using computer programs the errors which result from drawing and measuring with a ruler and a protractor may be eliminated.¹¹

The uncertainty in landmark identification causes significant tracing errors, which needs skills relying on operator’s experience,¹² quality of original radiographs, resolution of the digital images, nature of cephalometric landmark.⁷ A study by Erkan and his associates had stated the importance of standardization in comparative studies like this study. The intra-examiner error is lesser than the inter-examiner error, thus, to reduce the possibility of errors, this study was standardized by having only one examiner for both Dolphin cephalometric method and Oneceph app cephalometric method.¹³

In this study SNB, FMA, Basal Plane Angle, L1 to MP showed a difference between dolphin and OneCeph. Sekiguchi and Savara showed that nasion (N) might be challenging to locate when the nasofrontal suture is not clearly seen and it has been reported that menton, nasion and posterior nasal spine were also sources of errors this might have contributed for the difference in SNB.¹⁴

The difference in measurement of Basal Plane angle may be attributed to palatal plane angle, ANS point identification, which shown poor consistency and is often affected by the superimposition of other anatomical structures.² Also the position of gnathion which is used to form a line with gonion to measure the mandibular plane angle. The gonion shows variation in its’ position in the vertical and horizontal axes. This may be due to the difficulty in identifying the landmark on the curved anatomical region.⁷

It has been found that the gonion, orbitale, porion, menton and lower incisor apex were the most inconsistent and unreliable points^7,15 this might have contributed to the difference in FMA and L1 to MP.

In general, the study showed statistically significant values on the correlation of Dolphin and One Ceph digital cephalometric methods.  It can be said that the OneCeph app is as reliable as the Dolphin cephalometric method and that the minimal variations can be attributed to the variations in the operator’s reproducibility of the landmarks and calibration of the cephalometric image in the app.

An android based Oneceph app provides a convenient interface with most commonly used analyses, Burstones cephalometrics for orthognathic surgery, cephalomorphic, Downs, Holdway, Jarabak, Mc Namara, Ricketts, Steiners, Schwarz, Tweed, Wits Appraisal, Beta angle and Yen angle, etc. This app also demonstrates the potential of a smartphone to simplify a complex, time-consuming diagnostic task such as cephalometric analysis while simultaneously providing structured reference and e-learning capabilities.

Conclusion

The results obtained by the On eCeph app showed most parameters are comparable with the Dolphin Imaging software. Therefore, it can be concluded that this app is reliable, user-friendly which facilitates its use by the clinician on a regular basis.

Clinical Significance

This user-friendly One Ceph app can be utilized with sufficient accuracy for the cephalometric analysis of most of the measurements required in day-to-day clinical orthodontic practice.

Acknowledgements

The author(s) received no specific funding for this work.

Conflict of Interest

There is no conflict of interest.

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