Evaluation of structural skeletal asymmetry of the glenoid fossa in adult patients with unilateral posterior crossbite using surface-to-surface matching on CBCT images

Objectives: To compare, using surface-to-surface (StS) matching, any shape differences between\r\nthe crossbite and noncrossbite side of the glenoid fossa and articular eminence in adult patients\r\naffected by posterior unilateral crossbite (PUXB) and compare them with unaffected controls.\r\nMaterials and Methods: 32 cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of patients (mean\r\nage: 23.72 6 3.74 years) undergoing surgical maxillary expansion were analyzed to obtain threedimensional models of the left and right glenoid fossae that were superimposed using stable\r\nanatomical reference points and then compared using StS matching to evaluate the presence of\r\nany shape differences. These findings were compared with those obtained from 16 CBCT scans of\r\nunaffected controls (mean age: 23.72 6 3.73 years).\r\nResults: A mean difference of .11% was found between the study group and controls when\r\ncomparing the matching percentages of the two sides of the glenoid fossa and articular eminence\r\nat all three levels of tolerance selected for this study. These differences were found to be highly\r\nstatistically significant (P .0001).\r\nConclusions: According to the shape analysis findings, adult PUXB patients exhibit a higher\r\ndegree of glenoid fossa and articular eminence shape differences compared to unaffected controls.