Mandibular asymmetry in adult patients with unilateral degenerative joint disease

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between unilateral degenerative joint disease (UDJD) and lower facial asymmetry. Twenty symptomatic patients and 20 asymptomatic volunteers were studied. Posteroanterior radiographs and bilateral mandibular laminographs were used to evaluate lower face and mandibular asymmetry. The two-way analysis of variance test was used to compare the groups. The posteroanterior radiographs did not reveal vertical asymmetry for the patients. The group with the left side affected exhibited deviation of the mandibular dental midline, the menton, and the antigonion toward the affected side. The laminographs of the same group revealed decreased condylar height and increased antigonial notching in the affected side. The results suggest that subjects with UDJD may manifest lower face asymmetry. This can be of clinical value when adult patients exhibiting asymmetry are to be treated.