Evaluation of normal facial asymmetry in men with skeletal Cl II & III malocclusion and its relationship with being right-handed or left-handed

Non-pathological facial asymmetries are usually due to differences in sizes of the right and left sides. This study investigated normal facial asymmetry in individuals with Cl II and III malocclusion to clarify facial laterality and its relationship with the right-handedness or left-handedness.
In this cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study, frontal-view digital photographs were taken of 66 subjects (43 Cl II and 23 Cl III) referring to the Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Khorasgan University. The patients were questioned about the main chewing function side and their right- or left-handedness. On the photographs, the facial midline and menton point on the chin were drawn; the distance between the midline and the left and right sides were measured on the photographs using Photoshop software program. In addition, the distance between the menton point and the midline was measured. Data were analyzed with independent t-test (α = 0.05).
In 51.2% of Cl II and 47.8% of Cl III subjects the right side of the face (p value = 0.85) was wider than the left side and in 48.8% of Cl II and 52.2% of Cl III subjects the left side of the face (p value = 0.79) was wider than the right side, with no significant relationship between dental occlusion and face width. In addition, 62.1% subjects exhibited deviation of the chin to the left side (p value Cl II and Cl III malocclusion exhibited no effect on face laterality and the facial half width; however, right-handedness and left-handedness affected face laterality.