Facial Asymmetry

Although each person shares with the rest of the population a great many characteristics, there are enough differences to make each soul a unique individual. Variations in the size, shape, and relationship of the dental, skeletal, and soft tissue facial structures are important in providing every individual with his or her own identity. Perfect bilateral body symmetry is essentially a theoretical conception that rarely exists in living organisms. Right-left variations occur all over in nature where two congruent but mirror image types are present. Facial asymmetry can manifest as part of many craniofacial syndromes or can develop as a result of trauma, pathology, or abnormal growth. This book intends to see the degree of asymmetry that is considered to be normal, apparent, but within acceptable aesthetic range, and apparent and considered appropriate for treatment.