I asked a similar question in the new "Mike Mew Q and A" thread but I figured I'd get some input from you guys. My jaw angle has decreased from mewing and my ramus has lowered, at least 1 cm, but my question is what actually causes this? I understand why mewing would push the maxilla forward but what causes the ramus to increase in length? Is this because the tongue being pushed up against the palate causes the ramus to have a downward pressure, essentially being pushed away from the skull? Thanks.
I want to hear from others on this
Initial thoughts are that I recall how Mike Mew states that the mandible is never lengthening as a result of treatment but instead just the mandible rotating to its correct position. So I’ve seen this process as sutural/Saggital expansion growth and then resulting upswing/rotation/correction of mandible.
Never about growth or lengthening or “gains” in the “outer U”! ( That is assuming you are on the older side)
However you’re asking about Ramus which I’ve read and heard little about. And visually im interpreting asking about the vertical length from your ear.. down.
By default I go to “well must be part of that rotating!” If it’s rotating then the cm can be explained that way, maybe?
If I hold my hand at a downward angle, then rotate my hand accordingly — there may be the appearance of the opposite end growing downwards. That is how I’m rationalizing the observations
... Are you displeased with the change?
I think there is bone remodeling going on that increases the length of the ramus, beyond just changing the position or angle of the mandible. For example, individuals with sleep bruxism often exhibit pronounced rami. A case is described on claimingpower.com of a young woman with a very square jaw who had bruxism since childhood to the point that she needed veneers for her teeth.
Here are some of her CT scans showing her sharp gonial angle:
Even in cases of bruxism that develop during adulthood, it is common to find changes in the mandible. In this case, an x-ray shows calcified ligaments and changes to the gonial angle that results from adult bruxism.
So in the case of Mewing and chewing, we are strengthening the masseter muscles that attach to the ramus. For example, people at risk of osteoporosis are encouraged to use weight bearing exercises to enhance their bone density. I suspect the same process is going on here: masseter hypertrophy induces calcium deposition/bone growth around its attachment point in the masseter.
I think this makes sense considering how much the lower jaw widens in response to mewing and palate expansion. It seems to logically follow that vertical ramus growth would occur as well.
If you think of the tongue like a balloon being blown up in the mouth, there would both be lateral and vertical bone growth, and I believe Mike Mew has used this analogy in the past.
To answer the question of the first post, yes I am greatly satisfied with my results, and and eagerly awaiting results over the next months/ year(s)
"Distraction osteogenesis, also called callus distraction, callotasis and osteodistraction, is a process used in orthopedic surgery and oral and maxillofacial surgery to repair skeletal deformities and in reconstructive surgery. The procedure involves cutting and slowly separating bone, allowing the bone healing process to fill in the gap."
That is the simple answer, then.
Also I read this:
"The current thinking of the three theories of mandibular growth is that the condylar cartilage does have some measure of intrinsic genetic programming but restricted to a capacity for continued cellular proliferation, meaning that cartilage cells are coded and geared to divide and continue to divide but extracondylar factors are needed to sustain this activity. In all of the cases, the lack of mandibular condyle and physiologic muscle function caused by the ankylosis in a growing phase compromised the three-dimensional growth of the affected side"
( https://utmb.influuent.utsystem.edu/en/publications/vertical-and-horizontal-mandibular-lengthening-of-the-ramus-and-b)
So ramus lengthening would be the same principle as palatal expansion. But what is the specific mechanism, we ask?
I wonder which it is between these, or which of these contributes most.
"Distraction osteogenesis, also called callus distraction, callotasis and osteodistraction, is a process used in orthopedic surgery and oral and maxillofacial surgery to repair skeletal deformities and in reconstructive surgery. The procedure involves cutting and slowly separating bone, allowing the bone healing process to fill in the gap."
That is the simple answer, then.
Also I read this:
"The current thinking of the three theories of mandibular growth is that the condylar cartilage does have some measure of intrinsic genetic programming but restricted to a capacity for continued cellular proliferation, meaning that cartilage cells are coded and geared to divide and continue to divide but extracondylar factors are needed to sustain this activity. In all of the cases, the lack of mandibular condyle and physiologic muscle function caused by the ankylosis in a growing phase compromised the three-dimensional growth of the affected side"
( https://utmb.influuent.utsystem.edu/en/publications/vertical-and-horizontal-mandibular-lengthening-of-the-ramus-and-b)
So ramus lengthening would be the same principle as palatal expansion. But what is the specific mechanism, we ask?
I wonder which it is between these, or which of these contributes most.
My ramus has lengthened as well, but this happened before I started myofunctional/orthotropics. I would prefer my ramus to be shorter. Is there a way to guide the ramus upwards?
How old are you?
Combo of the following:
Counterclockwise rotation of the maxilla makes the mandible unhinge itself by lowering its position and then biting upwards. This decreases the gonial angle by giving the previously "tucked in the face " mandible room to come down and then forward.
Palate expansion of the lower jaw from the upper jaw's pressure. This widens the mandible and presumably the jawline becomes more prominent. This doesn't directly change the gonial angle but makes the mandible for noticeable.
Chewing exercises the masseter, causing hypertrophy which then causes bone remodeling to fit the larger masseter. Not just chewing but the constant pressure from keeping teeth together as well.
Widening of the upper arch even without rotation gives the "small U" arch of your mandible more room to jut forward since the "larger U) expands thus giving the mandible room to go forward to close the bite.
Truthfully this is all awesome stuff . I am so glad I discovered it!
I asked a similar question in the new "Mike Mew Q and A" thread but I figured I'd get some input from you guys. My jaw angle has decreased from mewing and my ramus has lowered, at least 1 cm, but my question is what actually causes this? I understand why mewing would push the maxilla forward but what causes the ramus to increase in length? Is this because the tongue being pushed up against the palate causes the ramus to have a downward pressure, essentially being pushed away from the skull? Thanks.
I would love to see pictures!
I would say you have changed your point of view since then
I think CCW rotation may happen in some cases (Class 2 mainly). But I don't believe anymore CCW rotation has to happen for ideal growth anymore.
That said expansion does have a tendency to bring the molars down which would still mean that the ramus would come down with them to maintain occlusion.
My jaw angle has decreased from mewing and my ramus has lowered, at least 1 cm,
Hi, would you mind telling me how long this took to happen since mewing/chewing? And how old you are?
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