Objective: To study the effect of Class III intermaxillary functional orthopedic force on the remodeling of pubescent Rhesus monkeys' TMJ for different lengths of time.
Methods: Six pubescent Rhesus monkeys were divided into test group and control group. Monkeys in the test group wore TMAIII while the control group did not. Cephalometric technology and CT scanning were employed in this study.
Results: 1. Compared with the control groups, the cephalometric results showed that the relationship of the occlusion changed in the test groups. The growth of the maxilla was promoted and the development of the mandible was inhibited, but the mandibular length was not decreased. 2. Compared with the control groups, CT scanning results showed that the posterior space of TMJ in the test group narrowed and the anterior space widened. There was a statistical difference between the test group and the control group(P < 0.01), but no difference within the test group.
Conclusion: Under Class III Orthopedic therapy, the occlusion relation was changed. The growth of maxilla was promoted and the development of mandible was inhibited. The posterior space of TMJ narrowed and the anterior space widened in test group.