The role of cluster analysis on traditional cephalometric dimensions
In order to categorize (classify) craniofacial forms, varying linear dimensional arrays from a series of pretreatment cephalographs (‘A’ records) were subjected to cluster analysis. The derived subgroups (clusters) not only showed inconsistencies in their component patients, but also their ‘nearest neighbors’, i.e. cases identified as being most similar to one another. This study, therefore, emphasized the need to devise more appropriate cephalometric appraisal techniques for patient categorization (diagnosis).Abstract
Contributor Notes
M. Finkelstein is a graduate student in the Department of Preventive Dental Science, University of Manitoba, Faculty of Dentistry, having obtained a BDS and MSc at the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa
C. Lavelle is a Professor in the Department of Oral Biology, University of Manitoba, Faculty of Dentistry, having obtained a Phd, DSc, DDS from the University of Birmingham, England
T. Hassard is Professor in the Department of Community Health Services, University of Manitoba, Faculty of Medicine, having obtained a PhD in Biostatistics from the University of Belfast, Northern Ireland