Mandibular asymmetries in patients with skeletal classes I and II: An analysis and comparison

Introduction: Mandibular asymmetries are common in orthodontic patients and affect both aesthetics and function. The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence and degree of mandibular asymmetries in patients with skeletal Classes I and II, using orthopantomographic (OPG) images to assess linear and angular measurements of the mandible. Materials and Methods: A total of 70 orthopantomographic images of patients over 16 years of age were analyzed. Patients were classified into skeletal Class I and II groups based on lateral cephalometric analysis. Linear and angular mandibular measurements were categorized as mild, moderate, pronounced, or severe asymmetry. Results: Although no statistically significant differences were found between skeletal Class I and II patients in terms of ramus length, mandibular corpus length, or gonial angle asymmetry, there was a predominant deviation of the mandible to the left side. Considering differences in the length of the mandibular ramus and corpus, a total of 19 participants (27.14%)-10 in skeletal Class I and 9 in Class II-had differences of less than 2 mm for both measured values. The remaining 51 participants had at least one measured difference greater than 2 mm, indicating that mandibulofacial asymmetry is a common issue within the analyzed groups. Conclusion: The study did not show significant differences in mandibular asymmetries between patients with skeletal Classes I and II, highlighting the importance of asymmetry assessment in all orthodontic patients for effective treatment planning.