IntroductionLateral cephalometric radiographs are traditionally required for orthodontic treatment, yet rarely used to assess asymmetries.ObjectiveThe objective of the present study was to use lateral cephalometric radiographs to identify existing skeletal and dentoalveolar morphological alterations in Class II subdivision and to compare them with the existing morphology in Class I and II relationship.Material and MethodsNinety initial lateral cephalometric radiographs of male and female Brazilian children aged between 12 to 15 years old were randomly and proportionally divided into three groups: Group 1 (Class I), Group 2 (Class II) and Group 3 (Class II subdivision). Analysis of lateral cephalometric radiographs included angular measurements, horizontal linear measurements and two indexes of asymmetry that were prepared for this study.ResultsIn accordance with an Index of Dental Asymmetry (IDA), greater mandibular dental asymmetry was identified in Group 3. An Index of Mandibular Asymmetry (IMA) revealed less skeletal and dental mandibular asymmetry in Group 2, greater skeletal mandibular asymmetry in Group 1, and greater mandibular dental asymmetry in Group 3.ConclusionBoth IDA and IMA revealed greater mandibular dental asymmetry for Group 3 in comparison to Groups 1 and 2. These results are in accordance with those found by other diagnostic methods, showing that lateral cephalometric radiography is an acceptable method to identify existing skeletal and dentoalveolar morphological alterations in malocclusions.

Objective: Biologically explain some of the bone mechanisms involved in the intrusion, or intrusive effect, of teeth submitted to skeletal open bite correction using four miniplates. Methods: The results of dental intrusion were measured and compared in 3D reconstructions of cone beam computed tomography scans taken before and after treatment of 20 patients with skeletal open bite, aged between 18 and 59 years. Results: The results allow deducing that the compression and traction forces biologically promoted deformation or deflection of the osteocyte network that controls bone design, and these effects involved the external and internal surfaces of the bone, with the formation of new layers, including the cervical portion of the alveolar bone crest. This helps understanding how dental intrusion occurs in intrusive mechanics, whose forces are of inclination rather than intrusion. The root resorptions caused by the use of miniplates were insignificant, due to the more homogeneous distribution of forces in the several teeth simultaneously involved. Conclusion: Imaging studies in CT scans tend to capture in details the subperiosteal and endosteal phenomena of dental intrusion - before and after the application of intrusive mechanics -, in the form of a set of modifications called dental intrusion or intrusive effect .