title: Relationship between chin deviation and the position and morphology of the mandible in individuals with a unilateral cleft lip and palate.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we aimed to examine the relationship between chin deviation and the positional and morphological features of the mandible and to determine the factors that contributed to chin deviation in individuals with a unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of 28 adults with UCLP were analyzed in this study. Segmented three-dimensional temporomandibular fossa and mandible images were reconstructed, and angular, linear, and volumetric parameters were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For all 28 individuals, the chin was found to deviate to the cleft side by 1.59 mm. Moreover, among these 28 individuals, only 7 showed distinct (more than 4 mm) chin deviation, which was toward the cleft side. Compared to the non-cleft side, the mandibular body length, frontal ramal inclination, and vertical position of the condyle were lower and inclination of the temporomandibular fossa was steeper on the cleft side. Furthermore, the differences in inclination of the temporomandibular fossa, mandibular body length, ramus length, and condylar volume ratio (non-deviated/deviated) were positively correlated with chin deviation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  UCLP individuals show mild chin deviation to the cleft side. Statistical differences were noted in the parameters that represented positional and morphological asymmetries of the mandible and temporomandibular fossa; however, these differences were too small to indicate clinical significance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Seon
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Woo-Sung
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Soo-Byung
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Seong-Sik
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yong-Il
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Asymmetry; Cleft lip and palate; Computed tomography