Cephalometrics
Cephalometrics means “measuring the skull”. This study began in earnest in 1933 when the Bolton Foundation funded research by Dr. Broadbent. Dr. Broadbent chronicled skull development by taking two simultaneous skull X-rays over time on many individuals. One X-ray was taken of the front of the patient’s skull and the other X-ray taken of the side of the patient’s skull. So began the scramble to determine what skull locations are important to measure so a meaningful diagnosis can be made. Cecil Steiner of Los Angeles, California published his cephalometric analysis in 1955. The article was titled “Cephalometrics for you and me”. His measurements have a “norm” and variations from this norm make the diagnosis and influence the patient’s treatment plan. Over the years, additional norms have been published for different races.
Dr. Lloyd Downs, of the University of Illinois, challenged Dr. Ricketts to make his life's work the study of skull development to dependably predict how the skull grows. This information could then be used to provide a better diagnosis for orthodontic treatment. Dr. Ricketts went on to develop a technique which produces a visual representation of what effect different mechanics cause a face.
