assessment of cone-beam computed tomography (cbct) findings in facial asymmetric patients

introduction: due to the complexity of facial asy-mmetry, the diagnosis of different aspects of asymmetry via conventional radiographs is not precise. in this study, we investigated findings of facial asymmetry by using cone- beam computed tomography (cbct) images. materials and methods: in this descriptive study, we evaluated cbct findings of 18 patients i.e. a group of 14 females and 4 males having a mean age of 22.7 years who referred to a maxillofacial radiology clinic due to facial asymmetry from 2010 to 2011. findings of asymmetry were inves-tigated using axial, coronal and sagittal views. results: as detected in axial view, 9 of 18 pa-tients had yaw in the maxilla. approximately 14 and 11 patients had yaw in the mandible and zygoma respectively. differences were observed between the medio-lateral dimensions of the condylar heads in 7 patients. we also detected the cervical spine deviation in 9 cases. moreover, a difference in the antero-posterior position of the glenoid fossa in 10 patients was observed. in coronal view, “roll” i.e “cant” in the maxilla, mandible and orbital cavities was found in 14, 12 and 1 patient respectively. differences in the condylar neck height in 9 patients and in the level of the glenoid fossa in 11 patients were observed. conclusion: cbct is effective in evaluating the details of asymmetry and its effects on facial structures. in addition, three-dimensional approaches for the analysis of asymmetry transform it from a simple and predictable phenomenon into an incredibly complicated process. pursuing orthodontic treatment plan without considering these complexi-ties and details is not successful.