[A correlation study between the occlusal cant and temporomandibular joint space in patients with mandibular lateral...

To investigate the correlation between the occlusal canting and the bilateral temporomandibular joint (TMJ) space in adult and juvenile mandibular deviation patients and study the mutual influence between the occlusal canting and mandibular position, in order to provide references for clinical treatment.

CBCT data of mandibular deviation patients（20 adults，20 juveniles）were selected. Inivo5 Dental Anatomage software was used to reconstruct the structures. The occlusal cant and vertical height of the bilateral maxillary from canines to first molars were measured, and the vertical heights difference between the same teeth on both sides was calculated. The anterior, superior and posterior space of temporomandibular joint were measured respectively in both groups. Pearson correlation analysis between the occlusal canting and bilateral condylar space was carried out by using SPSS 17.0 software package.

In the juvenile group, negative correlations were found between the occlusal cant and the superior TMJ space on the deviated side (P＜0.05). Negative correlation was found between the vertical height difference of bilateral canines and the anterior TMJ space on the deviated side in the juvenile group(P＜0.05). In the adult group, no significant correlation was observed among those correlated examination (P＞0.05).

The occlusal canting is moderately correlated with mandibular position in the early stage of mandibular deviation patients. Early treatment of mandibular deviation is of great importance in preventing its progression into severe skeletal malocclusion, and more attention should be paid on the correction of the canted frontal occlusion plane.