title: The relationship between occlusal support and maxillary development: An animal study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the hypothesis that maxillary development may be affected by occlusal support.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample was composed by Wistar rats (5 weeks old) divided into three groups: Control (n = 10), extraction of mandibular molar teeth - left side (n = 10), extraction mandibular molar teeth - left and right sides (n = 10). The rats were sacrificed 8 weeks postextraction. Cone beam computed tomography scan images were taken for posterior measurement of maxillary length and width. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (Tukey test as post-hoc test).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maxillary length was significantly shorter (P < 0.005) in both groups after tooth extraction. No difference was observed regarding maxillary width and body weight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reduced occlusal support may impair the development of the maxilla in rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Health School, Potiguar University - Laureate International Universities, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabricio F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Da Costa
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Health School, Potiguar University - Laureate International Universities, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gabriela S M Q
authors.initials: GSMQ
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Health School, Potiguar University - Laureate International Universities, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Arcelino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farias-Neto
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Ponta Grossa State University, School of Dentistry, Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Ayala
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Piracicaba Dental School, Campinas State University, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Célia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Rizzatti-Barbosa
keywords: Craniofacial growth; hypodontia; occlusal support