THE ROLE OF INTERCUSPATION IN THE REGULATION OF TRANSVERSE MAXILLARY DEVELOPMENT IN MACACA-FASCICULARIS

The role of intercuspation of the teeth in transverse maxillary growth and dental arch development was investigated radiographically with th e aid of implants in Macaca fascicularis monkeys. Fourteen animals wer e randomly allocated to a control group (n=7) and an experimental grou p (n=7) and were followed from 29 to 100 weeks of age. Intercuspation was eliminated in the experimental group by grinding the canines and m olar cusps in both dental arches as soon as possible after emergence. Maxillary occlusal radiographs were taken at regular intervals. Linear and angular analyses of skeletal changes revealed that midpalatal sut ural growth seems to be independent of intercuspation. The developing dental arch, however, showed a significantly greater increase in width in certain areas in the experimental group than in the control group. Most findings support the hypothesis that the width of the maxillary dental arch is guided by the width of the mandible through the intercu spation of the posterior teeth.