The present study aimed to perform a histological evaluation of the response of temporal bone tissue to a change of direction of the force vector of the mandible in relation to the base of the skull. Adult rabbits were assigned to into four groups with two control and four experimental animals. Experimental animals underwent surgery which resulted in a change of direction of the force vector on the right temporomandibular joint. Samples were collected after 15, 30, 60 and 90 days for histological analysis. Results for control animals showed that normal growth and development of the temporal region. In the experimental group, the change in direction of the force vector of the mandible induced significant changes in the temporal bone, with a bone modeling process which suggests growth of this cranial structure. In the two-way analysis of variance, the effect of group and time was statistically significant ( p values < 0.001). Additionally, a statistically significant interaction between group and time was observed ( p < 0.001).

Conflict of interest: None declared.