Association between Condylar Position and Tilt of Frontal Occlusal Plane in Patients with Transversal and Vertical Dentofacial Discrepancy

Asymmetric malocclusion is a common problem in children with transverse and vertical dental anomalies. These asymmetries can be skeletal, dental, functional or combination of these. The aim of this study was to determine condylar position and quantifying inclination of frontal occlusal plane in patients with transversal and vertical dentofacial discrepancy. The study group consisted of 80 patients, 40 had unilateral posterior cross-bite, and 40 had normal occlusion. The age of the patients ranged between 13 and 18 years. In addition to transversal and vertical clinical observation, Ricketts facial PA cephalometric analysis was made. Radiographic analysis showed the relationship between the cant of the occlusal plane and mandibular position. The obtained results showed that there was a very high statistical significance (p<0.001) for cephalometric measurements inclination of occlusal plane Zl-A6/Zr-A6 between the 18 patients with unilateral crossbite and patients with normal occlusion. Mandibular displacement, facial asymmetry and strongest correlation with condyle path asymmetry were found in the experimental group. Unilateral cross-bites were very often associated with condylar deviations and, in some cases, signs and symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorders were present.