Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate morphological alterations and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 expression in the articular cartilage of the mandible under conditions of experimentally induced malocclusion.
Design: Twenty-four 8-week-old female Wistar rats were used and divided into control and experimental groups with two different treatment periods (2 and 4 weeks). Sagittal malocclusions were orthodontically created, causing mesial movement of the first molars and distalization of the third molars unilaterally and on opposite sides of the arches.