Evaluation of dentofacial asymmetry caused by odontomas using panoramic radiographs.

AIMS: To evaluate the presence of dentofacial asymmetry in patients with odontoma by panoramic radiography. METHODS: Panoramic images with odontoma were selected among all panoramic radiographs (3058 patients). Maxillary odontoma was detected in 27 patients while mandibular odontoma was detected in 25 patients. In addition, 30 patients with similar age and gender characteristics were selected as the control group. Skeletal angular, skeletal linear and dental measurements were performed on panoramic radiographs. The odontoma region and the opposite side of the odontoma of the individuals were examined. The dentofacial asymmetry of the odontoma groups was compared with the control group. Paired t-test was used to determine dentofacial asymmetry on the right and left side of the patients with odontoma. The ANOVA test was used for testing the differences among groups. RESULTS: As a result of study, no significant difference was found between the region of the odontoma and the symmetrical region in the maxilla and mandibula (P > 0.05). In the control group, a statistically significant difference was found in the angle between the mandibular canal and the mental foramen, lower incisor size, PFH/CutCat(°), and Co-Mc-Me(°) measurements (P < 0.05). In the maxillary and mandibular odontoma groups, a statistically significant difference was found in the angle between the mandibular canal and the menton, CH (mm), RH (mm), and CrH (mm) in the comparison of the odontoma and the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: No difference was found between the right and left sides of the jaws related with the asymmetry of the maxilla and mandible.

Comparison of the change in inferior sclera exposure after maxillary protraction with or without skeletal anchorage.

AIM: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the change in inferior sclera exposition after maxillary protraction with or without skeletal anchorage in patients with maxillary retrognathia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen patients (Group 1) who applied maxillary protraction with teeth-supported appliance and fifteen patients who applied maxillary protraction with skeletal anchorage (Group 2) were compared in order to investigate the effect of different maxillary protraction methods on the visibility of sclera. The patients in both groups had dental and skeletal Class III malocclusion with maxillary retrusion (ANB <0; SNA <80), increased vertical growth pattern (SnGoGn> 32) (long face), increased sclera exposure, and no congenital anomalies and dentofacial deformities. Pre- and posttreatment records were used to assess the amount of visible sclera on facial photographs using Adobe Photoshop CS6 program and the change in the movement of maxilla on cephalometric film. The pretreatment and after maxillary protraction values were compared statistically by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test (level of significance, P < 0.05). RESULTS: The amount of inferior sclera exposure to eye height decreased in the right and left eyes of the 30 patients with maxillary protraction. The amount of inferior sclera exposure to eye height of the right and left eyes decreased from 3.59 to 3.5 and from 3.44 to 3.39, respectively, in Group I (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). The amount of inferior sclera exposure to eye height of the right and left eyes decreased from 4.17 to 3.93 and from 3.86 to 3.68, respectively, in Group II (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: There were important results in both of the two methods. Although more improvement was obtained in the skeletal anchorage group, statistically no significant differences were found between the groups.