Assessment of condylar morphology in patients with unilateral posterior crossbite

Abstract

Introduction: Symmetry and balance in the facial morphology is an important factor determining facial attractiveness. Unilateral posterior crossbite is a common form of posterior crossbite that is usually associated with a functional mandibular shift which might, in the long run, lead to mandibular asymmetry. Thus, there was a need to study this malocclusion and its influence on the facial symmetry in young adults as any factor contributing to alteration in facial symmetry requires evaluation. The purpose of the study was to assess the condylar symmetry in patients with unilateral posterior crossbite. Materials and Methodology: The study was conducted on the pretreatment orthopantomograms (OPGs) of sixty cases, out of which thirty had unilateral posterior crossbite (crossbite group) and thirty had normal occlusion in the transverse plane (control group). The Condylar height(CH), Ramal height(RH), and Condylar + Ramal height(CH+RH) were compared within the groups, and their asymmetry indices were compared between the groups using ANOVA test. Results: The CH and CH + RH were significantly reduced on the crossbite side as compared to the normal side in the unilateral posterior crossbite group. The asymmetry indices were increased in the unilateral posterior crossbite group as compared to the control group. Discussion: OPGs can be used to evaluate vertical mandibular asymmetry. The condylar asymmetry index was increased in the group with unilateral posterior crossbite indicating a greater asymmetry between the two condyles in that group as compared to the control group. The finding was in concordance with a study done in the past. Conclusion: The unilateral posterior crossbite group showed reduced CH and CH + RH values on the crossbite side in comparison to the noncrossbite side. The same group showed a greater CH index (more than 3%) as compared to the control group, indicating that the patients with unilateral crossbite develop asymmetry in the mandibular condyle region.