Abstract
BACKGROUND: The purposes of this study were to investigate mandibular asymmetry changes from primary to early mixed dentition stages in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP), and compare the changes with those in patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP). METHODS: Panoramic radiographs taken at primary and early mixed dentition stages of 23 patients with UCLP and 17 patients with BCLP were included. Condylar, ramal and condylar plus ramal heights and gonial angle were measured bilaterally and asymmetry indices were calculated. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the parameters between the UCLP and BCLP groups. The growth changes from primary to early mixed dentition stages were assessed using Wilcoxon test. RESULTS: Condylar, ramal, condylar plus ramal heights increased significantly from primary to mixed dentition in both groups. Gonial angle did not change in the BCLP group although it decreased significantly in the UCLP group at the cleft side. No statistically significant change in condylar, ramal, condylar plus ramal height and gonial angle was found between the cleft and non-cleft sides in the UCLP group and left and right sides in the BCLP group. Condylar, ramal and condylar plus ramal asymmetry indices did not exhibit any significant difference between the UCLP and BCLP groups from primary to early mixed dentition. CONCLUSION: Patients with UCLP were observed to have symmetrical mandibles during primary and early mixed dentition, similar to those with BCLP. It may be too early to diagnose mandibular asymmetry in these dentition stages.