Influence of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling and masticatory load on morphological alterations of the mouse mandible during postnatal development.

Objective: Bone homeostasis relies on several contributing factors, encompassing growth factors and mechanical stimuli. While bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling is acknowledged for its essential role in skeletal development, its specific impact on mandibular morphogenesis remains unexplored. Here, we investigated the involvement of BMP signaling and mechanical loading through mastication in postnatal mandibular morphogenesis.