Association between facial asymmetry and mandibular tooth absence

Abstract

Facial symmetry is an important component of facial aesthetic. The human body tends to present symmetric development both side have same size and shape. Facial asymmetry is common, regards congenital and acquired causes. Purpose: Determine association between subjective assessment of facial asymmetry and mandibular tooth absence. Materials and method: The collected data and materials were processed using a retrospective study model. 60 participants were selected based on the criteria of study, orthodontist assessed subjectively facial asymmetry used a 100mm visual analog scale. Oral photographs were used to determine mandibular tooth absence based on Kennedy’s classification and compare it with subjective assessment of facial asymmetry. Results: In subjective assessment of facial asymmetry, 25% had normal and mild asymmetry, 46.6% moderate asymmetry, 28.3% severe asymmetry. In addition, 13.3% had complete mandibular teeth, 86.6% mandibular tooth absence. According to Kennedy’s classification of mandibular tooth absence, 6.3% were type I, 25% were type II, 62.5% were type III and 6.3% were type IV. Participants with normal or mild facial asymmetry did not have mandibular tooth loss, 82.1% of participants with moderate and 52.9% of participants with severe facial asymmetry had mandibular tooth absence (p<0.001). Of these, type II and III of mandibular tooth absence predominated. We concluded our study results that mandibular tooth absence, in particular unilateral edentulous area where located in posterior side affected facial asymmetry.