Craniomandibular Asymmetry Evaluation of Patients with Eruption Disturbances of Second Molar Teeth

Abstract

Objective:The aim of this study was to evaluate craniomandibular asymmetry in patients with unilateral eruption disturbances of permanent second molar teeth.Methods:Fifty-two patients showing unilateral eruption disturbances (delayed eruption and impaction) of permanent second molar teeth were included in the study group. Thirty patients with normally erupted second molar teeth were included in the control group. The gonial angle, length of condyle head, length of condyle neck, ramus height, corpus length, and angles between facial skeletal midline and transversal lines formed by connection of some important anatomical points on both sides were measured on orthopantomograms. Asymmetry indices were calculated for each parameter. Paired t-test was used in each group separately when comparing both sides of the face. Unpaired t-test was used when comparing study group and control group with regard to asymmetry index parameters.Results:In study group; increases in gonial angle, length of condyle head, and ramus height were observed on the eruption disturbance side compared to the normally erupted side (p˂0.05). Angles between facial skeletal midline and three separate lines formed by connection of articular eminence points, sigmoid notches, and gonion points were significantly higher on the normally erupted side. In control group, there was no statistically significant difference between both sides of the face. All asymmetry index parameters were showing statistically significant differences between study and control groups.Conclusion:Through this retrospective study, eruption disturbances of permanent second molars could be associated with craniomandibular asymmetry.

Keywords

• facial asymmetry
• molar
• tooth eruption