Correlation between craniofacial asymmetry and mandibular canine impaction in adolescents: A cross-sectional cephalometric study

Mandibular canine impaction is an uncommon eruption disturbance, and its relationship with craniofacial asymmetry in adolescents is not well established. This study evaluated the correlation between craniofacial asymmetry and unilateral mandibular canine impaction in 60 adolescents (12-18 years), including 30 impaction cases and 30 matched controls. Lateral and posteroanterior cephalograms were used to assess mandibular midline deviation, ramal height asymmetry, mandibular body length difference, and gonial angle discrepancy. Intergroup comparisons were performed using independent sample t-tests, and associations were analyzed using Pearson correlation (p < 0.05). Significantly higher asymmetry values were observed in the impaction group, with mandibular midline deviation and body length discrepancy showing the strongest correlation, indicating asymmetry as a potential predictor for eruption disturbances.