Analysis of mandibular bone symmetry by tracing angular lines in children with unilateral crossbite

Resumen

Introduction: Patients with crossbite can develop skeletal asymmetry in the long term. Considering this premise, we wonder whether crossbite may lead to quantifiable bone changes in children. The main objective of this study is to determine whether the unilateral crossbite can produce quantifiable early bone alterations in the mandibular angle. Methods: The panoramic radiographs of 217 children aged 6 to 9 years old, with unilateral crossbite and whose dentition stage was mixed first phase were used in the study. The gonial angles of the side of the crossbite and of the side with no crossbite were traced, measured and compared, using the tpsDig2 computer program and subsequently, a descriptive and comparative statistical analysis was performed. Result: Patients with right unilateral crossbite presented a statistically significant larger mandibular angle on the left side. Patients with left unilateral crossbite also presented a greater left mandibular angle, although not reaching statistical significance. Conclusions: There was no relation between the side of the crossbite and the mandibular bone size in the mandibular angle in children with mixed first phase dentition.