title: The effect of loss of occlusal support on mandibular morphology in growing rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of unilateral and bilateral premature loss of posterior occlusal support on mandibular bone dimensions in growing rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty female Wistar rats (5 weeks old) were randomized into three groups: control, unilateral mandibular molar teeth extraction, and bilateral mandibular molar teeth extraction. After 8 weeks, animals were sacrificed and acrylic rapid-prototyped templates of the mandibles were constructed. Mandibular length, ramus height, intercondylar distance, and body weight were measured and analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (Tukey test as post hoc test; α  =  .05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mandibular length and intercondylar distance were significantly shorter in experimental animals, while no difference was observed for ramus height and body weight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Unilateral and bilateral premature loss of posterior occlusal support in growing rats results in a smaller mandible at skeletal maturity.
authors: Department of Dentistry, Potiguar University, Natal, RN, Brazil. saudeoral@yahoo.com.br
authors: Arcelino
authors: A
authors: Farias-Neto
authors: Ana Paula Varela Brown
authors: AP
authors: Martins
authors: Célia Marisa
authors: CM
authors: Rizzatti-Barbosa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D005260:Female; D008334:Mandible / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000473:pathology; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology; D008963:Molar / Q000601:surgery; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*