Mp. Hatala et al., EFFECT OF A SURGICALLY CREATED DISK DISPLACEMENT ON MANDIBULAR SYMMETRY IN THE GROWING RABBIT, Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology, oral radiology and endodontics, 82(6), 1996, pp. 625-633
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.