Indicators of jawbone asymmetry through analysis of panoramic radiographs.

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. MATERIALS AND 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. RESULTS 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.