Abstract

Objectives: Assesment of reliability of the facial laterality and mandibular deviation in orthodontic patients with photograph and postero-anterior cephalogram using menton point.

Methods: Photographs and posteroanterior cephalogram of 120 subjects (35 males, 85 females) with class I, class II and class III malocclusion, between age group of 12 to 25 years were obtained. The frontal photo and posteroanterior cephalogram were analyzed for facial laterality and mandibular deviation. The obtained values were statistically analyzed to assess the facial asymmetry in orthodontic patients.

Results: class I & II patient’s menton deviation to left side were significant & highly significant respectively statistically with no significance in class III. Male subjects showed 46% deviation of menton to left and 9% to right, it was statistically significant. In class I, 51% showed left sided deviation of the soft tissue menton was significantly greater than the subjects with right sided deviation i.e. 21%. chin deviation in class II subjects showed 44% with left side were not significant statistically. In class III, 54% showed laterality of the chin to left side, 19% right side and no chin deviation in 27%, which is statistically significant (p< 0.05).

Conclusion: Menton deviation with left sided laterality were seen in class I and class II but, in class III menton deviation to right side were observed. Soft tissue overlying the hard tissue tries to minimize the skeletal asymmetry. Soft tissue chin was deviated to left in most subjects. Gender difference in both skeletal and soft tissue asymmetry was not significant.

Keywords: Facial asymmetry; Menton; Laterality; Posteroanterior cephalogram