Changes of Temporomandibular Joint in Occlusal Reconstruction For Unilateral Chew Wing Rats

Objective: To study the effect of occlusal reconstruction for unilateral chew wing rats on temporomandibular joint.Methods: 40 white rats were divided into two experiment groups and two control groups.The right upper and lower posterior teeth of all rats were ground to the gingival level without occlusal contact.The rats of the first experiment group were stoped to ground teeth at 3 weeks and the second group was stopped to ground teeth after 9 weeks.The teeth of those rats were grown to have occlusal contact.The control group did not stop to ground teeth.The rats of the first experiment and control groups were killed 10 weeks later,those of the second groups were killed 16 weeks later.The pathological changes of TMJ were studied.Results: The TMJ of first experiment group was normal.There had pathological changes in TMJ in the second experiment groups and in control groups.Conclusion: The early occlusal reconstruction can cure the damage of the TMJ of unilateral chew wing rats.