Influence of the Occlusal Alteration in the Mandible Morphology of the Gerbil Influencia de la Alteración Oclusal en la Morfología Mandibular del Jerbo

Considering the biomechanical aspects, many facts need to be understood on the mandible, to know which effects unilateral occlusal changes may cause on the stomatognathic system. The aim of this study was to analyze the malocclusion by unilateral teeth extraction on the mandible morphology in gerbil. We used 10 gerbils Meriones unguiculatus, young male, weighing around 50-60g, divided into two groups (n=5), an experimental group and control, which evaluated the two hemi-mandibles, with a total of 20 samples which were measured by digital pachymeter. The measures were taken: (1) length and (2) width of the mandible condyle and (3) body height in the region of mandibular 1st molar. Data from these measurements were analyzed using ANOVA and Mann-Whitney test. The results of this study showed a statistically significant difference in the three measures between experimental and control groups. The width of the mandible head (condyle) showed statistical difference between the ipsilateral and contralateral sides to teeth extraction. It was concluded that the mastication modification by unilateral teeth extraction caused an imbalance, promoting not only a modification in the craniofacial growth pattern, but also a harmful effect on the stomatognathic system of the gerbil used as an experimental model in this study.