A frontal cephalometric study on the reference lines to assess the craniomaxillofacial asymmetry

Paek, Sun Ho; Ahn, Byoung Keun; Kim, Sun Hae; Sohn, Hong Bum; Han, Ho Jin; Kang, Soo Man

Abstract

This study was undertaken to investigate the midline having the least difference between the right and left structures among the lines that had been used in the study of the craniomaxillofacial asymmetry. The sample of this study consisted of twenty six Korean girls(average 18.9 years old) having normal facial appearance and occlusion. On the frontal cephalometric films of the sample, we divided the whole craniomaxillifacial area into four portions, i.e., cranial, upper facial, lower facial, and dental portion. So, we have found the midlines having the least difference in the whole craniomaxillofacial area itself, and in the each divided four portions, furtherly in the other portions from aimed portion. The findings were as follow: 1. In the whole craniomaxillofacial area, the connecting line between crista galli and anterior nasal spine and the perpendicular bisecting line between right and left foramen rotundums were suitable for the midline. 2. In the cranial portion, established all six lines were suitable for midlines. In the other portions, the perpendicular bisection line between both condylion, the line passing the contact point between right and left mandibular central insisiors among the perpendicular lines between right and left mandibular central incisial tips were suitable midlines for evaluating the asymmetry of cranial portion. 3. In the upper facial portion, the perpendicular bisecting line between right and left zygions was the most suitable midline. In the other portions, the line between the crista galli and the most superior point of the odontoid process, the perpendicular bisecting line between right and left gonions, the perpendicular bisecting line between right and left condylions, and perpendicular bisecting line between right and left foramens rotundum were suitable midlines for evaluating the asymmetry of the upper facial portion 4. In the dental portion, the perpendicular bisecting lines between right and left buccal cusps of both maxillary first molars and between right and left mandibular first molars were suitable midlines. In the other portions, the perpendicular bisecting line between right and left landmarks crossing the lesser wing of the sphenoid bone and orbit, the perpendicular bisecting line between right and left mental foramens, and the connecting line between crista galli and prosthion were suitable midlines for evaluating the asymmetry of dental portion. 5. In the lower facial portion, the perpendicular bisecting lines between right and left condylions and between right and left gonions were suitable midlines. In the other portions, the line between the crista galli and anterior nasal spine, the perpendicular bisecting line between right and left foramen rotundums, and the perpendicular bisecting lines between right and left buccal cusps of both mandibular first molars and between right and left maxillary first molars were suitable midlines for evaluating the asymmetry of the lower facial portion.