Comparison of C2 vertebra rotation in patients with mandibular asymmetry using cone beam computed tomography

OBJECTIVE: To compare rotation of the C2 vertebra in axial CBCT sections of adults with mandibular asymmetry. METHODS: CBCTs of 66 individuals obtained with an iCAT-Q Vision device were classified into three groups (22 each) according to menton deviation from the midsagittal plane (mild, moderate, severe). Coronal, axial, and three-dimensional linear measurements were obtained. Data were analyzed using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Differences between the chin deviation side and the contralateral side were assessed with paired t-test, and among groups with ANOVA followed by Tukey's post hoc test. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference in C2 rotation was observed between groups (p = .031) and in contralateral Co-Go measurements between mild and severe groups (p = .034). Within-group analysis showed a difference in the severe group (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with severe mandibular asymmetry exhibit greater C2 vertebral rotation relative to the coronal plane than those with mild asymmetry.