Evaluation of condylar position from transcranial projections in primary dentition.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the condylar position through transcranial radiographs in children between 3 years and 6 years old and to associate it with morphological characteristics of primary dentition.


METHODS
The extraoral transcranial radiographs were taken with plain films using the Accurad-200 head holder (Denar Company, Anaheim, CA), and then they were digitized using a Hewlett Packard 6390 Scanner. The condylar position was determined according to Gelb's template, in postural rest position (RP) and maximum intercuspal position (MI), and it was associated with the characteristics: normal occlusion (n=36), open bite with or without overjet greater than 3 mm (n=27), unilateral or bilateral posterior cross bite (n=14), overbite greater than 3 mm (n=15). The chi-square and the Fisher Exact Test were used to analyse the data.


RESULTS
It was verified that when using Gelb's template, there was not a significant association between the occlusion type found and the position of the condyle in the glenoid fossa when considering the entire patient sample (P>0.05). There was a great variability in positions, and most of the children had asymmetric condyles (55.43% in MI and 51.09% in RP). Children with normal occlusion and malocclusion presented the same proportions of condylar position in both mandibular positions.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, the results of this study showed that the condylar position in small children with different morphological occlusions presented great variability.
Serra
M D
MD
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Piracicaba Dental School-State University of Campinas, SP, Brazil.
Gavião
M B D
MB
D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D024343:Open Bite / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D012886:Skull / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous; D014716:Vertical Dimension; D014963:X-Ray Intensifying Screens