Indicators of jawbone asymmetry through analysis of panoramic radiographs

Authors:

ABSTRACT

Aim

To assess the degree of jawbone asymmetry by drawing vertical lines on digital panoramic radiographs of paediatric
patients with right or left unilateral cross-bite.

Methods

Study Design: The sample consisted of 217 paediatric
patients of both genders, aged 6-9 years. A set of vertical lines was drawn on the side of the mandible with the cross-bite and on the
side without the cross-bite, using software program tpsDigs version 2. Subsequently, the differences in the measurements of the two
sides were determined through statistical analysis. RESULS: Analysis of the vertical jaw lines on the radiographic bite indices
indicated, in every case, quantifiable differences between the side with the cross-bite and the side without the cross-bite. The
differences between vertical variables, related to the heights of the mandible body and the condyle, were statistically significant
(p>0.005) for the whole sample and both genders. Statistically significant differences in the heights of the mandible body were found
for all the age groups (6 to 9 years old), except for the 9-year-old group, which registered differences in the variables of condylar height.

Conclusion

Throughout the sample and regardless of the side affected by cross-bite, the vertical variables corresponding to the
total height of the ramus were always smaller on the side with the cross-bite. Gender did not affect the results obtained and age
influenced some of the mandible's vertical heights.

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