ANTERIOR MANDIBULAR DISPLACEMENT AND CONDYLAR GROWTH - AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY IN THE RAT

Abstract

Anterior displacement of the mandible was produced in twenty-eight 1-month-old female rats by two methods: (1) cast-gold splints cemented to the maxillary incisor teeth and (2) a removable stainless steel mesh appliance worn 6 hours each day, during which time the animals were sedated. The controls were littermates without appliances and in the mesh group were also sedated. Animals in the splint group were killed after 24 hours, 1 week, and 1 month; those in the mesh group were killed after 24 hours and after 1 week. the condyles were removed and cultured for 24 hours in medium containing 3H-thymidine. One condyle from each animal was processed for routine histologic and autoradiographic stu..