title: Evaluation of mandibular contour in patients with significant facial asymmetry.
abstract: Most previous studies on facial asymmetry have not specifically differentiated mandible deviation from structural asymmetry of the mandible. The purpose of this study was to assess the symmetry of the mandible by examining its contour in a cohort of patients with significant facial asymmetry. Eleven cases of facial asymmetry with chin deviation ≥10mm were enrolled. A voxel-paired median plane (optimal symmetry plane, OSP) and two landmark-based median planes were generated. The OSP was created by computing the best pairing of the bony voxels on the two sides. One side of the mandibular contour was mirrored onto the other side using the test plane. The contour differences were measured by distance and by area ratio. They were examined both in frontal and frontal downward inclined view. The contour symmetry of the mandible was that revealed by the plane that presented the best symmetry. The results showed that the OSP worked best in bisecting the contour into two symmetrical halves. Contour analysis showed relatively small discrepancies between the two sides. In conclusion, the mandibles retained an acceptable contour symmetry despite the presence of significant mandibular deviations. It is suggested that proper mandibular alignment be the primary objective in the correction of facial asymmetry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: J-J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Y-H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Institute of Oral Medicine and Department of Stomatology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. Electronic address: victortyw@yahoo.com.tw.
authors.forename: T-Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthodontics, Institute of Oral Medicine and Department of Stomatology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: J-K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Y-X
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: I-F
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Leong
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Institute of Oral Medicine and Department of Stomatology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: K-C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D059925:Anatomic Landmarks / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D002508:Cephalometry; D002680:Chin / Q000002:abnormalities; D005146:Facial Asymmetry / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000175:diagnosis; D008334:Mandible / Q000002:abnormalities*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: facial asymmetry; mandibular contour; misalignment; symmetry plane