Evaluation of temporomandibular fossa and mandibular condyle in adolescent patients affected by bilateral cleft lip and palate using cone beam computed tomography

The purposes of this study were to investigate the position of the mandibular condyle and temporomandibular fossa between the adolescent patients affected by bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) and well-matched controls without any cleft by using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). The study sample consisted of 17 patients (7 females and 10 males; mean age, 14.27 +/- 2.83 years) affected by BCLP and 17 patients (6 females and 11 males; mean age, 14.27 +/- 2.12 years) as age-and sex-matched control group without any cleft. Using cone-beam computed tomography segmented three-dimensional temporomandibular fossa and mandibular condyle images were reconstructed and angular, linear, and volumetric measurements of the patients in both sides of the groups were examined using Paired and Student's t-tests. Comparison of the sides showed that both sides were found to be similar in BCLP and control groups, except the condylar angulation of the right side was found to be higher compared to that of the left side in both groups (p<0.05). Comparison of the groups showed that the patients affected by BCLP and non-cleft patients had similar values for all parameters, except for the condylar angulation in the right side (BCLP group had less angulation compared to controls; p<0.05). The condylar volume was found to be slightly less in the BCLP group in both sides compared to the controls (p>0.05). The positions of the mandibular condyle and temporomandibular fossa were found to be similar in patients affected by BCLP and control group of without any cleft. SCANNING 38:720-726, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.