EFFECT OF UNILATERAL FUNCTION ON CRANIOFACIAL GROWTH

The present study is aimed at experimental research of the effects of functional matrices upon the formation of functional units. The sample consisted of 15 experimental dogs (five dogs per each experiment) and five controls. Three experiments were carried out: neurectomy of the right mandibular nerve, circumvention of the right nostril and enuclea tion of the right eyeball. The results showed no statistically signifi cant difference between age and animal sacrifice time interval. The co ntrols manifested the significant differences in. the Length, breadth and height of the upper mandibular body consistent with their natural asymmetry. Neurectomy of the right mandibular nerve did not manifest s tatistically significant differences whereas the sample was too small, animal sacrifice time interval tao short and passive movements of tha t mandibular side were still present after the operation. Circumventio n of the right nostril revealed in. the nasal opening breadth, which f or the very nature of the operation and only a partial exclusion of th e right side function could have been. anticipated. Enucleation of the right eyeball eliminated the visual function, in. the right face caus ing changes in the midface, i. e. in the breadth and height of-the nos tril. The findings confirmed the initial assumption on. the correlatio n between the removal of potential growth factors and increase of the opposite face parameters. The changes were most prominent in the mid o f the head which can be related to its developmental and structural fe atures.