Why Have We Been Wrong About Mandibular Growth For So Long, And What Difference Does It Make Clinically? (Apr 12, 2016)

Orthodontists have been taught that the mandible is displaced downward and forward, that the condyle grows up and back, and that the greater the backward growth of the condyle, the greater the anterior displacement of the chin. This notion, which serves as the foundation for functional appliance therapy, is wrong. The greatest chin projection in normally growing subjects occurs in those whose condyles grow forward the most. This course will provide the background necessary for orthodontists to understand these relationships. It will be shown that the key determinant of AP and vertical chin position is the true mandibular rotation that takes place during growth.