biomedicines Article Mandible Biomechanics and Continuously Erupting Teeth: A New Defect Model for Studying Load-Bearing Biomaterials Jonathan Z. Baskin 1,2,3,*, Brandon M. White 3 , Amit Vasanji 4 , Thomas E. Love 5 and Steven J. Eppell 3 1 Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA 2 Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA 3 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA;
[email protected] (B.M.W.);
[email protected] (S.J.E.) 4 ERT Inc., Cleveland, OH 44114, USA;
[email protected] 5 Population Health Research Institute, The MetroHealth System and Departments of Medicine and Population & Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA;
[email protected] * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Tel.: +216-791-3800 (ext. 63111) Abstract: Animals with elodont dentition and unfused mandible symphyses are hypothesized to have symmetric incisor morphology. Since these animals maintain their teeth by gnawing, they may provide physiologic feedback on mechanical function when unilateral mandible defects are created that manifest as ipsilateral changes in tooth structure. This defect model would potentially Citation: Baskin, J.Z.; White, B.M.; generate important information on the functional/mechanical properties of implants. Rats’ and Vasanji, A.; Love, T.E.; Eppell, S.J. rabbits’ mandibles and teeth are analyzed with µCT at baseline and post-intervention (n = 8 for each). Mandible Biomechanics and Baseline incisors were compared. In a unilateral mandible pilot study, defects—ranging from critical Continuously Erupting Teeth: A New size defect to complete ramus osteotomies—were created to assess effect on dentition (rats, n = 7; Defect Model for Studying rabbits, n = 6).