title: Morphological changes in the internal structure of the articular eminence of the temporal bone during growth from deciduous to early mixed dentition.
abstract: Previously, bio-mechanical studies on the temporomandibular joint have concentrated mainly on the mandibular condyle while the articular eminence has been largely overlooked. Furthermore, research on the mechanical properties of bone using finite element analysis has focused on the cortical bone in preference to cancellous bone. In this study morphorogical changes in the internal structure of the articular eminence as related to child growth were examined using Micro-CT. Morphometric analysis of samples of cancellous bone representing both deciduous and early mixed dentitions showed an increase in the bone volume fraction and trabecular thickness in the early mixed dentition, and finite element analysis indicated directional transmission of stress as well. These results suggest that the morphology of the trabecular bone was altered to adapt to the functional growth progressed from the deciduous to the early mixed dentition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Tokyo Dental College, 1-2-2 Masago, Mihama-ku, Chiba 261-8502, Japan. ichikaj@tdc.ac.jp
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ichikawa
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tamatsu
authors.forename: Yoshinobu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ide
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D003818:Dentition, Mixed; D008445:Maxillofacial Development / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000254:growth & development*