The purpose of this study eas to evaluate the reproducibility of the Ricketts method of analysis applied to children during the period of primary dentition, that is to say, to find out whether the Ricketts analysis produces different results according to the measuring points or the measurment items used, or according to differences in the skills of the analyst, or if the measurements are made on different days or on children of different ages, that is, in different stages of dental calcification. A total of 31 standard radiographs were used in the study: 6 driedneurocranium radiographs and 25 lateral cephalometric radiographs of the outpatients selected among those treated at hospital of the Pedodontics Department 754of the University. The examinations were performed using three different types of analysis, viz., ternary arrangement-dispersion analysis, quaternary arrangementdispersion analysis, and difference-examination of the dispersed inter-analyst errors. The following results were obtained:
1) In the group with dried neurocraniums, significant differences due to interanalyst factors were observed in Basion in the direction of the X-axis and in Nasion, Points A, PA and B6 in the direction of the Y-axis. In other aspects, no significant differences were observed either in relation to interanalyst or inter-date (of mesurement) factors, and thus reproducibility was considered good.
2) In the group of child patients, significant differences due to inter-analyst factors were observed in ANS and PNS in the direction of the X-axis and in PNS in the direction of the Y-axis. Regarding other mesuring points, no significant differences were observed either in relation to inter-analyst or inter-date factors, and thus reproducibility was concidered good.
3) The analysis of differences in the dispersion of inter-analyst errors did not reveal any tendency towards a greater degree of difficulty of analysis as the patient's age increased.
4) With regard to the Ricketts analysis items, significant differences, due to inter-analystfactors in canine relation, upper-lip length and maxillaly height, were observed. As for the other items of the analysis, no significant differences were observed either in relation to inter-analystor inter-date factors, and thus resproducibility was considered good.
5) As for the Ricketts itsems of analysis, a number of Omeasuringpoints were found to show significant differences between one analyst and another, but no variation resulting from the differences in dental age was observed. The authors have thus concluded that the Ricketts method of analysis is sufficiently effective to be applied also to children in the primary dentition period.
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