Objectives: To evaluate the condylar position through transcranial radiographs in children between 3 years and 6 years old and to associate it with morphological characteristics of primary dentition. Methods: The extraoral transcranial radiographs were taken with plain films using the Accurad-200 head holder (Denar Company, Anaheim, CA), and then they were digitized using a Hewlett Packard 6390 Scanner. The condylar position was determined according, to Gelb's template, in postural rest position (RP) and maximum intercuspal position (MI), and it was associated with the characteristics: normal occlusion (n = 36), open bite with or without overjet greater than 3 mm (n = 27), unilateral or bilateral posterior cross bite (n = 14), overbite greater than 3 min (n = 15). The chi-square and the Fisher Exact Test were used to analyse the data. Results: It was verified that when using Gelb's template, there was not a significant association between the occlusion type found and the position of the condyle in the glenoid fossa when considering, the entire patient sample (P > 0.05). There was a great variability in positions, and most of the children had asymmetric condyles (55.43% in MI and 51.09% in RP). Children with normal occlusion and malocclusion presented the same proportions of condylar position in both mandibular positions. Conclusions: In conclusion, the results of this study showed that the condylar position in small children with different morphological occlusions presented great variability.o TEXTO COMPLETO DESTE ARTIGO, ESTARÁ DISPONÍVEL À PARTIR DE AGOSTO DE 2015.352110116