title: The effects of altered maxillary growth on patterns of mandibular rotation in a pig model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A thorough understanding of influence of maxillary growth on patterns of mandibular rotation during development is important with regard to the treatment of skeletal discrepancies. In the present study, we examined whether experimentally altered maxillary position has a significant influence on patterns of mandibular rotation in a pig model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Maxillary growth was altered in a sample of n=10 domestic pigs via surgical fixation of the circummaxillary sutures. We compared the experimental group to control and surgical sham samples and assessed the effects of altered maxillary growth on mandibular form using geometric morphometric techniques. We tested for significant differences in mandibular shape between our samples and examined axes of morphological variation. Additionally, we examined whether altered mandibular shape resulting from altered maxillary position was predictably associated with morphological changes to the condylar region.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a statistically significant difference in mandibular shape between the experimental and control/sham groups. As a result of vertical displacement of the snout, mandibles in the experimental sample resulted in greater anterior rotation when compared to the control/sham pigs. Variation in rotation was correlated with morphological changes in the condyle including the shape of the articular surface and condylar orientation indicative of greater anterior mandibular rotation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vertical displacement of the maxilla had a significant effect on mandibular shape by encouraging anterior mandibular rotation. This result has important implications for understanding the effects of altered mandibular posture on condylar remodeling the treatment of skeletal discrepancies such as the correction of hyperdivegent mandibular growth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Department of Anthropology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. Electronic address: nathan-holton@uiowa.edu.
authors.forename: Nathan E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Holton
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Dows Research Institute, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Christina L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Nicholas
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Steve D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Franciscus
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Southard
mesh_terms: D059925:Anatomic Landmarks; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development*; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D008437:Maxilla / Q000601:surgery*; D012399:Rotation; D013552:Swine
keywords: Integration; Mandibular rotation; Sus scrofa