Objectives: Unilateral posterior crossbite involves multiple teeth on one side of arch and can be defined either as functional crossbite or true (skeletal) unilateral posterior crossbite. In true unilateral posterior crossbite, the posterior teeth on one side of maxilla are positioned more palatinally than the posterior teeth on that side of mandible. It was reported that in skeletal unilateral posterior crossbite, because of compensation of lateral shift of the mandible, condylar heights in crossbite side are shorter than in noncrossbite side. The purpose of this study was to investigate condylar and ramal asymmetries in true unilateral crossbite patients as compared with normocclusive subjects. Methods: The study group consisted of 21 patients (14 girls and 7 boys) with the mean age 14.31 ± 2.68 years and the control group consisted of 21 patients (13 girls and 8 boys) with the mean age 13.08 ± 0.84 years. Condylar (CH), ramal (RH), and condylar-plus-ramal (CH + RH) asymmetry values were computed for all subjects on panoramic radiographs. The asymmetry indexes of the CH, RH and CH + RH were also computed by using a predefined formula. Data were analyzed statistically with ANOVA for repeated measures and univariate ANOVA. Results: In both groups no difference was found between the sexes. In the study group, on crossbite side, RH and CH + RH were smaller and CH was longer than those of the non-crossbite side but all measurements were not statistically significant in both groups. CH, RH and CH + RH asymmetry indexes were higher in the crossbite group than in the control group, and statistically significances were seen in the condylar and ramal index (p<0,01). Group-sex interaction was significant in condylar index. Conclusion: The patients with true unilateral posterior crossbite had more asymmetric condyles when compared to normocclusive subjects.
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