Dr. Fred Schudy: The Mechanism of Jaw Growth

After forty years of begging, pleading, cajoling our profession to please, pretty please, recognize the importance of the “mechanism of jaw growth,” and only 5% of all orthodontists understand how the jaws grow (this is not my opinion, but the opinion of a clinician who has lectured on all five continents), you would think that I would finally give up. No!! I WILL NEVER GIVE UP AS LONG AS I AM STILL BREATHING.

When just two growth increments explain how the jaws grow – how the mandible grows forward and downward, WHY is it so difficult to grasp? The forward and downward growth of the maxilla is not affected by “the mechanism of jaw growth.” The maxilla grows forward and downward by sutural growth and local foci – which is poorly understood.

Our progress is now 35 years behind. We are now starting at the 1965 level – assuming that we really start now. When it takes 40 years to inform 5% of our profession of a simple concept, will somebody please tell me where we are headed?

I have never tried to explain how the entire craniofacial complex grows – only how the lower jaw grows forward and downward. Of course, the forward, downward, and backward movements of (1) the temporal bone, (2) the fossae, (3) the condyles, (4) the clivis, and (5) the posterior condylar growth, have an important effect on the forward thrust of the symphysis.

The forward movement of the maxillary teeth are partially driven forward by the growth of the mandible through interdigitation. It is hoped that this further explanation will help the membership understand how the jaws grow.

TheMechanism of Jaw Growth: The "Holy Grail" of Orthodontics

TheMechanism of Jaw Growth:
The "Holy Grail" of Orthodontics