Establishment of norms of the beta angle to assess the sagittal discrepancy for Chennai population: A prospective study

• Main Authors: Vickraman Maruthi, Saravanapandian Kandasamy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2016-01-01
• Series: International Journal of Pedodontic Rehabilitation
• Subjects: Beta angle; cephalometrics; orthodontic diagnosis; sagittal relationship; skeletal profile
• Online Access: http://www.ijpedor.org/article.asp?issn=2468-8932;year=2016;volume=1;issue=2;spage=52;epage=55;aulast=Maruthi

Background and Objectives: In orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning, the assessment of anteroposterior (AP) discrepancy is of importance to the orthodontist. Both angular and linear measurements have been incorporated into various cephalometric analyses to help the clinician diagnose AP discrepancies and establish the most appropriate treatment plan. Hence, the present study is designed to establish the norms of beta angle to assess the sagittal discrepancy for Chennai population. Materials and Methods: The samples were screened from the records of the patient who visited Orthodontic Department of Saveetha Dental College and Hospital. One hundred fifty pretreatment cephalometric radiographs were subdivided based on ANB, Wits appraisal, and beta angle into skeletal Class I, II, III. The same cephalograms were again classified into skeletal Class I, II, and III based purely on beta angle. A total of 150 subjects were included in the study with the age group between 18 and 22 years old. Results: The analysis of variance showed that the three groups were significantly different (P ≤ 0.001). The Newman-Keuls post hoc test also found the groups to be significantly different. Conclusion: There was statistically significant difference for the mean values for beta angle within the three skeletal patterns (Class I, Class II, and Class III skeletal patterns). There was no statistically significant difference among the mean values of beta angle between Chennai district population and Caucasian norms.