SERVOSYSTEM

Introduction
Craniofacial growth has been the ground for research for
several years, starting from Genetic theory, Sutural
theory, Cartilaginous theory, Functional matrix theory,
Van Limborg’s theory and now the Cybernetic theory.

The Servosystem is a part of the cybernetic theory which

describes the craniofacial growth mechanism
systematically and also explains the functioning of the
various appliance system
Genetic theory

 Genotype supplies all the information required for the

phenotypic expression

 The influence of the general, regional and local factors

modifying the gene expression

How does the modification occurs

Sicher’s Sutural dominance theory
 Craniofacial sutures are responsible for the growth
 This theory acknowledge the importance of Genetic
theory
 Sutures, cartilage and and Periosteum are growth centers
 Sutures carry the genetic potential of the growth
pattern,thus sutural patterns were predetermined
 Disapproved
 Transplantation of the sutures
 Moss’ experiment on rats
 Hydrocephaly and microcephaly
Cartilage directed theory of growth
 Proposed by James Scott – 1953, 1954, 1967
 Cartilage and periosteum as active and primary growth
centers
 Sutures play a passive and secondary role
 Cartilage have the intrinsic genetic potential
 Nasal cartilage and mid face
 Transplantation
 Mandible and condylar cartilage
 Achondroplasia
 Disapproved
 Condylar cartilage
Cartilage directed growth theory
Functional matrix
 Proposed by Melvin Moss 1960, 1962, 1997
 Original concept of Functional cranial component by Van
Der Klaaw
 The origin, form, position ,growth and maintenance of
the skeletal tissue is secondary and compensatory to the
responses that occur in the specifically related non
skeletal tissues, organs or functioning spaces
 Could not explain the control of the epigenetic factors
 Functional matrix hypothesis revisited – 1997 AJO DO
Functional matrix
Functional cranial component

Skeletal unit Functional matrix

Micro Macro Periosteal Capsular

Skeletal Skeletal matrix matrix
unit unit

Translation
Transformation
Mechano transduction
Cytoplasmic
Trans membrane membrane
protein Integrin

Collagen fibres Actin Nuclear membrane

Cybernetic and control theory
 Demonstrates the quantitative and qualitative relationship
between the observationally and experimentally collected
findings

Observation findings Experimental finding

 Petrovic was the first to propose a cybernetic model to

account for the physiological phenomena involving
facial growth and functioning of the functional and
orthopeadic appliances
Epistemplogic features
 Branch of philosophy that deals with the possibility,
nature, origin, structure and validity of knowledge
Hypothesis
Popper1963,
Science is not a
static Refute
acceptance of
truth but rather
the permanent FAIL
search for truth
Corroboration Strengthening
of the theory
Cibernetically organized biologic features

INPUT BLACK BOX OUTPUT

o Maxillary
lengthening and Correction of
Orthodontic
widening, malocclusion
functional , and and
orthopaedic o mandibular intermaxillary
lengthening and relation
appliances
widening,
oTeeth movements
Classification of the loop systems

Physiologic systems

Closed loop system Open loop system

No comparator
Regulator Servosystem No feed back
system mechanism

constant Not a
constant
Input
 Command

Reference
x X input element

Constantly
changing reference
Coupling input
system Controlled
Output
system
Controlled variable
x
Comparator
Actuator

Performance Performance
Controller analyzing elements
Command
 Signal established independent of the feedback system
 Affects the behavior of the control system without being
affected by the consequences
 Eg. Growth hormones,testosterone, and estrogen
COMMAND

REFERENCE INPUT
ELEMENT
AMPLIFIER
OPUTPUT REFERENCE
INPUT

CONTROLLED
ACTUATOR COMPARATOR
SYSTEM

CONTROLLER PERFORMANCE

PERFORMANCE
ANALYSING
ELEMENTS
Reference input element
COMMAND

REFERENCE INPUT
ELEMENT
AMPLIFIER
OPUTPUT REFERENCE
INPUT

CONTROLLED
ACTUATOR COMPARATOR
SYSTEM

CONTROLLER PERFORMANCE

PERFORMANCE
ANALYSING
ELEMENTS

 Between the command and the reference input

 Septal cartilage, septopremaxillary frenum, labionarinari
muscle and premaxillary and maxillary bone
Reference input constantly changing variable
 Signal established as a standard of comparison
 Independent of the feedback mechanism
 Sagittal position of the maxilla

COMMAND

REFERENCE INPUT ELEMENT

AMPLIFIER REFERENCE
OPUTPUT INPUT

CONTROLLED
ACTUATOR COMPARATOR
SYSTEM

CONTROLLER PERFORMANCE

PERFORMANCE
ANALYSING
ELEMENTS
Control of the maxillary growth

Direct effect Indirect effect

STH -
stomatomedin

Spheno occipital synchondrosis Forward

Nasal septal cartilage growth of Outward
Lateral masses of ethmoid septal
Body and greater wing of sphenoid cartilage growth
Forward growth of septal cartilage
 Thrust effect
Anterior extremity of the
nasal septal cartilage

Spreads laterally in
antero inferior direction

Penentrates into the

premaxillary bone

Thrust
effect

Premaxillomaxillary Maxillopalatine
suture suture
 Septopremaxillary ligament traction

Growth of the nasal

septal cartilage
Traction effect on the
premaxillary bone through
the Septopremaxillary
ligament
 Traction of the labionarinari muscle
 Traction of the premaxillary bone through this muscle
 Biomechanic promotion of the forward growth of the upper jaw
 Absence of labial muscle attachment on the nasal septum –
cleftlip- bone deformation
Outward growth
Outward growth of the lateral cartilaginous
masses of the ethmoid and the cartilage
between the body and greater wings of
sphenoid

Produces a lateralization of the right and left

alveolar ridges

Stimulates the growth of the midpalatal suture

Outward growth of the

maxilla
Performance and the performance
analysing elements
COMMAND

REFERENCE INPUT ELEMENT

AMPLIFIER
OPUTPUT REFERENCE
INPUT

CONTROLLED
ACTUATOR COMPARATOR
SYSTEM

CONTROLLER
PERFORMANC
E

PERFORMANCE
ANALYSING
ELEMENTS
The controller and the actuating signal
 The central nervous system
 Controls the activity of the lateral pterygoid muscle and
the retrodiscal pad
 The A.signal is the response of muscle and the
retrodiscal pad COMMAND

REFERENCE INPUT
ELEMENT

AMPLIFIER
OPUTPUT

CONTROLLED
ACTUATOR COMPARATOR
SYSTEM

CONTROLLER PERFORMANCE

PERFORMANCE
ANALYSING
ELEMENTS
Role of lateral pterygoid & retrodiscal pad
I CONTROL- INTACT LPM AND NORMAL
RETRODISCAL PAD

BILATERAL RESECTION OF LPM DECREASED NO OF DIVIDING

II CELLS
DECREASED GROWTH RATE
OPENING OF STUTZMANN’S
ANGLE
DECREASED WIDTH OF MITOTIC
COMPARTMENT

III TMF CLAMPED BILATERALLY SAME AS II BUT LESS

INTENSE

IV TMF CLAMPED SAME AS II AND V

LPM RESECTED

V TMF RESECTED SAME AS A II

VI LPM AND TMF RESECTED NO CHANGE

BILATERALLY
Retrodiscal pad
 Partly a mediator of LPM as the blood supply is through
this muscle
 Surgical resection causes diminished rate of growth of
condylar cartilage and lengthening of mandible
 Blood circulating effect
 Biomechanic effect
Controlled system
 Is the final outcome of the system
 The sagittal position of the mandible

COMMAND

REFERENCE INPUT
ELEMENT
AMPLIFIER
OPUTPUT REFERENCE
INPUT

CONTROLLED
ACTUATOR COMPARATOR
SYSTEM

CONTROLLER PERFORMANCE

PERFORMANCE
ANALYSING
ELEMENTS
The Attractor
 Structurally stable steady state in a dynamic system
 Full interdigitation of the teeth be it class I, Class II or
Class III, with cusp to fossa relationship thus eliminating
 The servosystem strives to achieve this stable form
The Repeller
 Unstable equilibrium state
 Cusp to cusp type of occlusal relationship
 The comparator detects this deviation signal and tries to
achieve the cusp to fossa relationship through the
servosystem
Comparator

Central comparator Peripheral comparator

Repetitive Detects the

posturing of the disturbances in
mandible periphery

Sensory engram Periodontal receptors

Functioning of functional appliances
Functional appliances
Increased contraction
of LPM Supplementary
lengthening of
Iterative activity of the the mandible
retrodiscal pad

In growth stimulating factors Additional subperiosteal

ossification of the posterior
Enhancement of local mediators border of mandible
Reduction of local regulators
Additional growth of
Change in the condylar condylar cartilage
trabecular orientation
Postural hyperpropulsor
Upper dental arch in a more Reduction in
anterior position anatomic
repositioning of
the mandible
Confrontation
between arches
Reduced intensity
of the deviated
Deviated signal signal

Reduced by fwd posturing Supplementary

of mandible lengthening of mandible

Contractile activity
of LPM
Class II elastics
 No increase in the contractile activity
 Action through the retrodiscal pad
 Intrinsic regulation of the prechondroblasts multiplication

Functional prechondroblast

Restriction of the
prechondroblast multiplication

stimulated growth rate

 Biologic activator for stimulating effect of class II
elastics seem to be retrodiscal pad and its role as a
metabolic pump
Herren Activator Effect similar to class II elastics
 Two step effects

When the appliance is When the appliance is not

worn worn
The retrodiscal pad is
Reduced length of the more stimulated
muscle as the mandible is
positioned forward Early onset of hypertrophy
of the prechondroblasts

No stimulating effect on Growth rate of condylar

the condylar cartilage cartilage is increased
Chin cap therapy
 The number of dividing cells in the condylar cartilage is
decreased
 Vertical growth direction and closing of the Stutzmann
angle
 Decrease in the length of the mandible
 Complete immobilization and the use of chin cap induces
the greatest decrease in the growth rate of condylar
cartilage and the lengthening of the mandible
Upper jaw
growth
control by
STH
Effect of hormone - maxilla and mandible
Lavergne and Petrovic,1983
 Growth categories - taken both maxilla and mandible
into consideration
 Three level arborization 3
L
I 2 e
l v
l e
e
e l
v
v
e
l e
l
Petrovic growth categories

Growth inequality of bases

1 Mandible equal to maxilla
2 Mandible smaller than maxilla
3 Mandible greater than mandible

Rotation of the mandible

R Neutral
P Posterior rotation of mandible
A Anterior rotation of mandible
Petrovic growth categories

Posteroanterior state
N Normal
D Distal
M Mesial

Vertical state
N Normal overbite
OB Open bite
DB Deep bite
Growth categories
 Mandible equal to maxilla

Quantitative
determination of
70%
difference between
maxilla and mandible

Mandible Mandible
25% Cell and molecular 3%
less than biology level greater than
maxilla maxilla

I LEVEL
 Neutral
Relates to the
growth
rotation and growth
inclination
of both maxilla
and mandible

Anterior Partly on respiration, Posterior

phonation and deglutition

II LEVEL
 Normal

Based on the
occlusal relationship

Distal Mesial
Unstable occlusion
Functional discontinuities

III LEVEL
 Tissue level growth potential – level of subperiosteal
ossification rate and the level of alveolar bone turnover
rate
 Tissue level growth responsiveness – the degree of
augmentation of the alveolar bone turnover resulting
from orthodontic treatment
 Morphogenetic rotation – the change in the shape of the
mandible
 Positional rotation – the change in the position of the
mandible with relation to adjacent structures
Lavergne and Gasson, 1977
 Six auxologic categories of the mandible
 Depends on – tissue level growth potential
- tissue level growth responsiveness to
orthodontic, orthopaedic and functional appliances
 helps define the biologic, inter individual variation of the
growing mandible
 Clinicians must give more importance to tissue level
growth responsiveness than just determining the growth
direction
Auxologic groups
Local factors affecting the condylar
cartilage
Cytoplasmic junction
between the skeletoblasts
become quantitatively
reduced

Inhibitory intercellular
stimulations are reduced

Cell division rate

increases

Rate of differentiation of
skeletoblasts to
prechondroblasts increases
Local factors affecting the condylar
cartilage
 Consistent transmembrane ion flux variation
•Intra cellular Na ion concentration increased
•Intracellular K ion concentration is decreased
•Discharge of H ion from blasts cell is increased
•Increased pH
•Intracytoplasmic Ca concentration is low
Local coupling mechanism
Open loop part of the Closed loop part of the
system system

Stimulating effect on the

cell multiplication Inhibitory effect on the
cell multiplication and
Growth hormone and consists of regulators of
growth promoting factors local origin
acting primarily by
inhibition of the restraining
signal
Bifurcation

Lack of interdental contacts

Cusp to cusp unstable position
correspond to the absence of
corresponds to functional
both stable and bifurcation
discontinuity
situation
Occlusal development
First phase Second phase

Morphogenetic process First phase coincides with

leading to stable occlusion the establishment of the
occlusion to serve as the
Stable occlusal
peripheral comparator
development capable of
serving as a peripheral Thus the creation of an
comparator is not achieved engram
Creation of an engram is Minimizes the possible
not possible deviation to achieve
stable occlusal
adjustment
Malfunctioning of the servosystem
Morphologically defective
The control system operates
peripheral comparator
faultlessly but is unable to
Multiple caries
correct the discrepancy between
Extreme bruxism
the growth rates of the upper
Morphologically acceptable and lower jaw
peripheral comparator
Seen in anteriorly rotating mand
Inadequate reference bases
associated with mesial basal
Anterior rotating mand with
distal jaw basal relationship interjaw relationship and in
Or a posteriorly rotating mand posteriorly rotating mand
with mesial interjaw basal associated with distal basal inter
relation ship jaw relationship
Conclusion
 The treatment of dentofacial malrelations requires
considerable insight into the modalities of craniofacial
growth which is adequately understood only with a
knowledge of mechanisms controlling it,so far the
cybernetic language has been the best tool to render
accurately the intricacy and complexity of the
craniofacial growth and means to influence it clinically
Thank you