1993 Volume 35 Issue 6 Pages 467-474
The purpose of the present study is to determine whether functional loading is important for the growth of the mandibular condyles. When the separated condyles were refixed, the condyles were expected to have functional loading upon mandibular movement, whereas nonfixed isolated condyles were expected to only exhibit resorption. At the same time, it was tested whether craniofacial adaptation occurs when the condylar function was altered. Thirty-six rats, 5 weeks of age, were divided into condylotomized animals (group A), repositioned animals (group B) and sham control animals (group C). Lateral cephalograms were taken every two weeks. Analysis of variance was used to examine the group differences. It was found that rats in group C was larger (p<0.01) than group A in posterior cranial base and mandibular body and ramus height of the experimental side, and those in group B was larger (p<0.01) than group A in the mandibular ramus of the non-treated side and the mandibular body of the experimental side at the end of the experiment. The present results support the contention that, within limits, functional loading on the codyles may create condylar growth that is closer to normal than in a static condition, although craniofacial adaptation occurs when condylar function becomes defective. Functional loading, therefore, is suggested to be important for condylar growth. Craniofacial adaptation is also suggested to occur when condylar support is lacking.
