The Pediatric Mandible: I. A Primer on Growth and Development

Abstract

Mandibular growth provides the basis for normal occlusal relations and the generation of increasingly large masticatory force. Although the exact mechanisms of bone remodeling during mandibular development remain unclear, the process likely receives contributions from primary growth centers and the response to local alterations in biomechanical force produced by surrounding soft-tissue structures. A working knowledge of the changing mandibular anatomy is a prerequisite for effective clinical management of traumatic injury.