Relationships of bicondylar position to occlusal asymmetry

Mandibular asymmetry in the frontal plane is a common finding, the left side of the mandible being more often the longer one, and a progressive trend for a more post-normal occlusion on the right side as compared to the left has been reported recently. The aim of the present work was to measure bico...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of orthodontics 1991-12, Vol.13 (6), p.441-445
Main Authors: Pirttiniemi, Pertti, Raustia, Aune, Kantomaa, Tuomo, Pyhtinen, Juhani
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Cephalometry
Cuspid - pathology
Dental Occlusion
Dentistry
Facial Asymmetry - pathology
Female
Humans
Jaw Relation Record
Male
Malocclusion - pathology
Mandibular Condyle - pathology
Temporal Bone - pathology
Temporomandibular Joint Disorders - pathology
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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Summary:Mandibular asymmetry in the frontal plane is a common finding, the left side of the mandible being more often the longer one, and a progressive trend for a more post-normal occlusion on the right side as compared to the left has been reported recently. The aim of the present work was to measure bicondylar asymmetry using computed tomography (CT) and to determine whether this is correlated with certain occlusal characteristics in young adults with no gross malformations. The subjects were 49 adults aged from 15 to 33 years, mean 24.2 years (SD 3.79 years). All of them had a complete or nearly complete dentition. The left condyle was found to be more anteriorly located on average and to be positioned closer to the skull base midline than the right condyle. The joint space between the condyle and the posterior wall of the glenoid fossa was larger on the left side. The asymmetry in bicondylar position correlated with the occlusal asymmetry. Subjects with lateral malocclusions showed a more asymmetric position of the condyles with respect to the posterior wall of the glenoid fossa. This may be of clinical importance and stresses the necessity for early correction of such malocclusions, as complete adaptation does not seem to occur in these cases.
ISSN:0141-5387
1460-2210
DOI:10.1093/ejo/13.6.441