MANDIBULAR ASYMMETRY IN NONCLEFT AND UNILATERAL CLEFT-LIP AND PALATE INDIVIDUALS

Objective:The purpose of this study was to retrospectively investigate mandibular asymmetry in unilateral cleft lip and palate individuals ( UCLP) in relation to chronologic age and in relation to lower facial a symmetry, Design:The longitudinal records of 34 UCLP individuals and 1 42 controls treated in the Department of Orthodontics, Eastman Dental Center, Rochester, NY, were included in the study, Posteroanterior and oblique cephalometric radiographs were analyzed for lower facial asym metry and mandibular asymmetry, respectively, Mandibular asymmetry in UCLP was analyzed relative to three age groups (6-10, 11-14, and 15 or greater) and compared to controls, Moreover, mandibular asymmetry was analyzed relative to lower facial asymmetry. Results: UCLP individual s showed no significant differences in mandibular asymmetry compared t o controls, In addition, no significant correlation was found between mandibular asymmetry and lower facial asymmetry in UCLP. Conclusions:T he degree of mandibular asymmetry in UCLP appears not to be the major contributing factor to the lower facial asymmetry noted on these indiv iduals, Possible cranial-base/temporal-region anomalies may be involve d in unilateral cleft lip and palate and be responsible of the asymmet ry noted in the lower facial skeleton.