A single ceph image can tell us a lot of information. In dentistry, specifically orthodontics, cephs are used to check a patient's bite, also known as occlusion, as well overjet and overbite. These x-rays assist orthodontists in creating treatment plans to create a healthy and comfortable bite.

This is not the only thing cephs can tell us, though! This specific x-ray can also show us where the patient is in their stage of growth. Do you see the vertebrae in the x-ray above? Each one has a bit of a curve to it towards the bottom: this indicates the end of this patient's growth stage! If the vertebrae are more squared off, the patient is still experiencing stages of growth, which you can see in the example below.

Through the ceph above, we can see that this patient still has some growth spurts to look forward to, but not only does this particular ceph show the patient's growth, we can also see their airway. A huge benefit of cephs is the ability to see a patient's adenoids and their relation to a patient's airway, as seen in the image to the right.

Have you noticed your child tends to breathe through their mouth or snore at night? They could have enlarged adenoids, which can impact their ability to breath properly through the nose. A benefit of an ortho consult, especially at an early age, is catching these breathing and adenoid issues early on, allowing for early intervention with your child's PCP and an easier recovery period if surgery is required.

Overall, cephalometric x-rays are a huge benefit of an orthodontic consult, even if no treatment is needed. This x-ray is part of our complementary consult with Dr. Creech, and we are able to provide you with a copy should you need to share it with your PCP as well. We look forward to seeing you "ceph it up" in the office soon!