Study of Condylar Asymmetry in Angle Class III Malocclusion With Mandibular Deviation

Differences in the condylar between both sides in class III cases with mandibular deviated are important for the diagnosis, treatment, and retention in this kind of patient. To detect the subtle differences, we analyzed the size, shape, and bone density with three-dimensional reconstructed technology.

The symmetry group and the asymmetry group each with 20 cases were chosen according to some standards. The computed tomographic data obtained and three-dimensional model were built with SimPlant software. The distance and angle were measured in the three-dimensional model, and the bone density was measured with the SimPlant software. The differences between the separated side in each group and the difference between the 2 groups were analyzed.

In the asymmetry group, some measurement projects of the bilateral condyles showed significant differences, such as the ramal height, condylar perpendicular height, the area of maximum cross section of condylar, condylar medialateral diameter, length of posterior slope, and angle of posterior slope. When the asymmetry group was compared with the symmetry group, the condyles of the asymmetry group showed more asymmetrical variations in morphology, such as the ramal height, the condylar perpendicular height, the area of maximum cross section of condylar, the medialateral diameter, the length of anterior slope, and angle of posterior slope. The bone mineral density of the condylar anterior and condylar medial point was higher in the nondeviated side, and the bone mineral density of the condylar posterior was higher in the deviated side, and no statistically significant difference was found in the symmetry group.

In class III malocclusion with mandibular deviation patients, the three-dimensional morphology and bone density of condylar on the deviated side differ from the nondeviated side, which indicates the association between asymmetrical jaw function and joint remodeling.