EFFECT OF A SURGICALLY CREATED DISK DISPLACEMENT ON MANDIBULAR SYMMETRY IN THE GROWING RABBIT

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the contribution of unilateral disk displacement to growth changes in the young New Zeala nd White rabbit.Methods. Ten female rabbits aged 10 weeks were include d in this study. The five experimental rabbits had unilateral anterior disk displacement surgery. The five controls had no surgery. The rabb its were killed at 22 weeks of age, and the mandibles hemisected and r adiographed. Cephalograms were digitized and analyzed by conventional methods. Results. The gross appearance showed shortening and flattenin g of the articulating surface in the experimental group (p < 0.05). No significant shortening and flattening was found in the control group. Conclusion. These observations suggest that surgically created intern al derangement can produce altered growth in the mandible.