Condylar Seating - The Physics of Condylar Compression

Dr James P Boyd Explains The Physics of Condylar Compression

Although it may take weeks (or months), elevating forces will slowly seat the condyle from its former position to its optimal position, as the lateral pterygoid slightly stretches and remodels accordingly. Once the lateral pterygoid has remodeled and allowed the condyle to seat superiorly/posteriorly, its contraction can still only advance the condyle. There is no muscle to pull the chin up during protrusion. To the casual observer the posterior teeth may appear to have supraerupted or the incisors may have intruded. However, no orthodontic studies show that posterior teeth supraerupt due to lack of nocturnal alveolar stimulation. Nor have studies shown that mild to moderate sporadic incisal forces can cause an incisor to intrude.