Prevalencia de Asimetrías Mandibulares en Pacientes que asisten al Servicio de Ortodoncia de las Clínicas Odontológicas de la Universidad Santo Tomás, Bucaramanga

Abstract

Mandibular asymmetries are differences in the size, shape, or position of the mandible that significantly impact facial aesthetics, masticatory function, and temporomandibular joint dynamics. Their etiology is multifactorial, involving genetic and environmental factors, as well as functional habits such as unilateral chewing. Digital panoramic radiography combined with Thilander’s analysis serves as an accessible and reproducible screening tool for their diagnosis. These alterations occur frequently in orthodontic patients, affecting occlusal stability and psychosocial well-being. In Colombia, epidemiological studies on this topic are limited; particularly in Bucaramanga, there is a significant information gap regarding their prevalence in children and adolescents receiving orthodontic care, which hinders early diagnosis and timely intervention planning. Early detection during growth stages enables the implementation of interceptive treatments that can reduce the need for invasive procedures or orthognathic surgery in adulthood. Therefore, this study aimed to provide local epidemiological evidence to strengthen diagnostic processes at Santo Tomás University and contribute to academic training based on current regional data. A cross-sectional descriptive prevalence study was conducted on a census of 150 digital panoramic radiographs from patients aged 7 to 25 years treated at the Orthodontics Service of the Dental Clinics of Santo Tomás University (2024-2025). Data were processed in Stata 16.0, performing univariate descriptive analysis (frequencies and percentages) and bivariate analysis using Chi-square or Fisher’s exact test to evaluate associations with gender and age (p < 0.05). The results showed a moderate prevalence of mandibular asymmetries, with the total ramus height (Co-Go) being the most affected dimension (37.33%), followed by ramus height (29.33%) and condylar height (28.67%). Most asymmetries were mild in severity. A statistically significant association was found between gender and ramus asymmetry (p = 0.020), with females showing a higher proportion of symmetry, while no significant association was observed with age. In conclusion, there is a moderate prevalence of mandibular asymmetries in the studied population, predominantly affecting the total ramus plane. Thilander analysis on panoramic radiographs proves to be an effective method for initial screening, allowing optimization of preventive and interceptive orthodontic treatment planning during active growth stages.