Sassouni’s Archial

Analysis
SASSOUNI’S ARCHIAL ANALYSIS

Sassouni analysis was the first cephalometric analysis to emphasize vertical

as well as horizontal relationships. Sassouni also pointed out that the horizontal
anatomic planes in well proportioned faces ended to converge toward a single
point.

If the planes intersected close to the face and diverge quickly as they pass
anteriorly predisposing the individual to an open bite malocclusion he termed it a
skeletal open bite. But if the planes are nearly parallel so that they converge far
behind the face and diverge only slowly as they pass anteriorly, there is skeletal
predespection towards an anterior deep bite and he termed the condition skeletal
deep bite.

The anteroposterior position of the face and dentition is evaluated by

noting the relationship of various points to arcs drawn from the area of intersection
of the planes.

In addition, to the normally used cephalometric land marks like Nasion

ANS. Pt. A, Point B, Pog., Gnathion, Menton, PNS and Sella, others like the
following are used.

Supraorbitale – (Sor) – Most anterior point of the intersection of the shadow of the
roof of the orbit and its lateral contour.

Roof of orbit (Ro) – Uppermost point of the roof of orbit.

Temporale (Te) – Intersection of the shadows of the ethmoid and the anterior wall
of the infra temporal fossa.
Clinoidale (Cl) – Most superior point on the contour off the anterior clinoid.

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Dorsum Sella (Sp) – Most superior point on the contour off the anterior clinoid.

Dorsum Sellae (Sp) – Most posterior point on the internal contour of the Sella
turcica.

Definition of planes used in Sassouni cephalometric analysis

Mandibulocranial angle – angle formed by the mandibular base plane and the
anterior cranial base plane.

Palatocranial angle – angle formed by the palatal plane and the anterior cranial
base plane.

Palatomandibular angle – angle formed by the palatal plane and the mandibular
base plane.

Occlusopalatal angle – angle formed by the occlusal plane and the palatal plane.

Occlusomandibular angle – angle formed by the occlusal plane and the mandibular
base plane.

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Angle M – angle formed by the 6 axis and the occlusal plane.
Angle M –angle formed by the 6 axis and the palatal plane.
Angle M – angle formed by the 6 axis and the anterior cranial base plane
Angle I – angle formed by i and the occlusal plane
Angle r – angle formed by i and the palatal plane
Angle I – angle formed by J. And the anterior cranial base plane
Angle R – angle formed by the occlusal plane and the ramal plane
Angle i – angle formed by the occlusal plane and the axis of i
Angle m – angle formed by the occlusal plane and the axis of 6 (From Sassouni,
1955).

ARCHIAL ANALYSIS PLANES:

The planes used in the archial analysis are:
1. Supraorbitale plane: Line drawn tangent to the Ro (most superior point on
the roof of the orbit) and the anterior clinoid:
2. Parallel to the Supraorbitale plane:
Line drawn tangent to the Si (lowest point on the internal contour of the
sella turcica) and parallel to the supraorbital plane.
3. Occlusal plane:
Plane made by joining the mid point of vertical overbite of incisors to the
occlusal level of the molars.
4. Parallel plane:
Line joining the ANS and PNS.
5. Mandibular plane:
Line joining the menton and the lowest point of the ramus just posterior to
the antegonial noter.

Construction of Point O:
When the parallel plane, the palatal plane, the occlusal plane and the
mandibular are extended posteriorly they become concentrated in a small area and
then they diverge.

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Parallel vertical lines are drawn between the most divergent planes going
posteriorly. The center 0 is located in the middle of the smallest vertical line.

CONSTRUCTING OF ARCS:
Anterior Arc:
Placing the tip of the compass on point 0 with radius from O to Na. Draw
an arc extending downwards. The arch should pass through the ANS, the tip of
the maxillary incisor, and Pog. If both the ANS and Pog are both either anterior or
both posterior to the arc, then draw another arc with 0 as center and the distance
from 0 to ANS as radius. Here the arc passes through Pog. But ANS is posterior
to the arc.

Key ridge (KP) – Lower most point on the contour of the shadow of the
anterior wall of the infra temporal fossa.

Opisthion (OP) – Lowest and most posterior point of the odontoid process
of the axis.

Odontoidale – (OD) – Uppermost point of the tip of the odontoid process

of the axis.

Basal Arc – With O as center and O-Rt. A as radius draw another arc
downward extending as far as Pt.B. Pt.B should fall on the arc; Pt.B is anterior to
the arc.

Mid facial arc:

Using as radius the distance from 0 to T draws another arc as far as the
occlusal plane, tangent to the mesial contour of the maxillary first permanent
molar. The molar here is distal to the arc.

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Posterior arc:
Using as radius the distance from center 0 to Sp (The most posterior point
on the contour of the Sella turcica). This arc should pass thorough Gonion. Here
the arc passes posterior to the Gonion.

Vertical proportions – Anterior:

With the tip of the compass on ANS open the compass to So and transfer
this dimension by rotating the compass until it intersects the anterior arc at the
level of the Menton. The distance from S0 to ANS should be equal to the distance
from ANS to menton. Here the distance from ANS to Menton, is more than the
distance from So to ANS.

Posterior:
With the tip of the compass on PNS open the compass to the intersection of
the posterior arc on the parallel plane and transfer this distance to the posterior arc
in the region of the Menton. This distance from PNS to the intersection of the
parallel plane with the posterior arc should be equal to the distance from the PNS
to the Posterior in the region of the Menton.

Anteroposterior evaluation:
In a normal profile the ANS, is (incisor superiors) and Pog. Should be on
the antr. Arc.

Vertical balance:
Here the anterior lower face height is greatest than the upper face height.
And the posterior lower face height is lesser than the posterior upper face height.

The anterior upper and lower face heights and the posterior upper and
lower face heights should be equal.

ARCHIAL ANALYSIS:
From the archial analysis, evaluate:

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1. Position of maxilla and mandible in relation to the anterior arc. (Protrusion
or Retrusion or normal and the distance from the arc in mm).

2. Position of Mandible in relation to maxilla. (Sum of 2 distances)

3. Posterior of Point B to arc –
4. % Size in corpus.
5. Posiiton of 1 to anterior arc. (If ANS or Pog are both anterior and posterior
to anterior arc, then compare it to arc with radius –from O to ANS.
6. Position of O to midfacial arc –
7. Axis of 1 to 1 (Inter incisal angle)
8. Anterior lower to upper face –
9. Posterior lower to upper face –
10. Palatal plane inclination (in relation to optic plane).

If both ANS and Pog are posterior to the by and equal amount the situation
is called retroarchial which is normal and maybe due to the Nasion being too far
forward.

If ANS is one of the anterior arc and Pog is not, there are two possibilities.

1. The Pog is anterior to the arc, which means a chin protrusion or a

mandibular prognathism.
2. Pog is posterior to arc, which means an absence of chin or a mandibular
retrusion.

If Pog is situated on the anterior arc and ANS is not, there are 2
possibilities.

1. ANS is anterior to arc, which means maxillary protrusion or,

2. ANS is posterior to arch, which means a maxillary retrusion.

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Any combination of maxillary protrusion and / or mandibular retrusion is
called skeletal class II. Any combination of maxillary retrusion and / or
mandibular protrusion is called skeletal class III.

Here the ANS is on the anterior arc where as Pog is posterior to it hence
according to the archial analysis it is as skeletal class II.

Size of corpus of Mandible :

If Go is on the posterior arc and Pog on the antr. Arc, this means that the
corpus length is equal to the cranial base.

Hence the corpus of the mandible is smaller than Sp-Na.

References:
1. Sassouni V. Forrest J.E: Diagnosis and treatment planning; In:
Orthodontics in Dental Practice. St. Louis, CV Mosby Co, 1971;167-190
2. Salzmann JA: Roentgenographic cephalometrics In: Practice of
Orthodontics Vol-I. Philadelphia, JB Lippincott Co, 1966;517-540.
3. Sassouni V: A roetgenographic cephalometric analysis of cephalo-facial
dental relationships, angle Orthod;1955;41:735-764.
4. Sassouni V: Diagnosis and treatment planning via roetgenographic
cephalometry. Am J Orthod; 1958:44:433-463.
5. Sassouni V, Nanda S Analysis of Dentofacial vertical proportions. Am J
Orthod 1964;50:801-823.
6. Sassouni V: The face in Five Dimensions, ed: Philadelphia Center for
Research in child Growth, Philadelphia, 1960 as stated in reference 1.

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SASSOUNI’S ARCHIAL ANALYSIS

INFERENCE
1. The 4 planes do not meet at point O, hence not a proportional face.
2. Anterior arc do not pass through Pogonion, incisal edges of horizontal
Nasion and ethmoid junction (i.e., 0 to ANS)
3. Posterior arc passes through Gonion.
4. Type II i.e., palatal plane does not pass through O.
5. Anterior arc to ANS = 3mm suggestive of forwardly placed maxilla
6. Anterior arc to Pog = - 12mm suggestive of backwardly placed mandible.
7. Basal arc to Point B = 9mm shows a CII tendency

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