Aim:

To investigate the condylar and ramal vertical asymmetry in patients with unilateral mandibular second premolar agenesis.

Subjects and Methods:

Study group included 58 patients (25 female, 33 males) with unilateral mandibular second premolar agenesis and a control group of 57 patients (41 females, 16 males); both with Class I skeletal and dental relationship. Condylar, ramal, and condylar plus ramal heights were computed in both side and compared by means of paired t-test. Additionally, the asymmetry indices in the study and control groups were compared by means of the Student's t-test.

Results:

No statistically significant sex difference was found for any of the asymmetry indices and thus the data for males and females were pooled for statistical analyses. According to the side comparison, the condylar, ramal, and condylar plus ramal heights were smaller in the agenesis side than in the normal side for the study group. However, this difference was not statistically significant. Regarding to the asymmetry indices, the patients with unilateral mandibular second premolar agenesis had more asymmetric condyles than did the control group (p < .01).

Conclusion:

Although condylar, ramal, and condylar plus ramal heights were smaller in the agenesis side than in the normal side for the study group, this difference was not statistically significant.

Keywords: Condylar asymmetry, Ramal asymmetry, Hypodontia