Retrospective Evaluation of Condyle and Ramus Asymmetry with Ortopantomography in Dentate and Total Edentulous Patients

Abstract

Background: It is aimed to compare the indexes of condylar and ramus asymmetry of dentate and edentulous patients in this study. Methods: Panoramic radiographs of patients who applied to Fırat University Faculty of Dentistry for various dental complaints between February 2022-February 2023 were evaluated retrospectively. A total of 200 patients, 100 dentate and 100 edentulous, were included. Habets technique was used to identify condylar and ramus asymmetry in panoramic radiography. IBM SPSS Statistics 22 program was used for statistical analysis. In addition to descriptive statistical methods, mann-whitney u, chi-square test and t-test were used for comparison. Significance was evaluated at p<0.05 level. Results: The mean of the condylar asymmetry index was 6.34 % ± 5.51 in edentulous patients and 6.30 % ± 5.81 in dentate patients. The mean of the ramus asymmetry index was 2.73 % ± 2.31 in edentulous patients and 2.81 % ± 2.31 in dentate patients. Although the mean condyle and ramus asymmetry indexes were higher in dentate patients, this difference was not statistically significant. Also condylar asymmetry is more common than ramus asymmetry, no statistically significant difference was found in terms of condylar asymmetry and ramus asymmetry when edentulous and dentate patients were compared. Conclusion: There is no statistically significant difference between dentate and edentulous patients in terms of condyle and ramus asymmetry index. Mandibular asymmetry caused by condylar and ramus asymmetries has a direct impact on facial appearance and can cause various functional and aesthetic problems clinically. Correct diagnosis of the causative factors in moderate and severe asymmetries is crucial for effective treatment planning. © 2024, Selcuk University. All rights reserved.