Purpose: To evaluate the effect of compression on the distracted area in new bone formation during mandibular distraction osteogenesis in rabbits. Materials and method: Sixteen rabbits, weighing approximately 2 Kg, and the prefabricated distraction device were used. With the rabbits under general anesthesia, we performed vertical osteotomies between the anterior and posterior mandibular teeth and then placed the distraction device. After a 5 -day latency period, the mandible was distracted to a length of 10.0 mm at a rate of 1 mm/day and then immediately compressed 4 mm in the experimental group (n=8). In the control group (n=8), the mandible was distracted to a length of 6.0 mm at a rate of 1 mm/day. Rabbits in the control group were killed at 2 and 8 weeks during the consolidation period. The specimens were evaluated with light microscope after H & E stain. Histomorphometric analysis was done at 8 week specimens. Results: All experimental animals showed mandibular elongation on the macroscopical and radiographic evaluations. At 2 week, immature bone formation was observed from the surface of the host bone margins with collagen fibers arranged parallel to the direction of distraction in the control group; in the experimental group, immature bone formation was observed adjacent to the host bone, and the collagen fibers were not arranged uniformly. At 8 week, spindle-shaped new bone formation was seen in the direction of distraction in distracted area of the control group, while in the experimental group, the newly formed bone was arranged in a multidirectional manner, like the pattern of trabeculae. In the histomorphometric analysis of 8 weeks, the area of bone deposition was $2.12{pm};0.75;inch^2$ in the experimental group and $0.87{pm}0.51;inch^2$ in the control group (p<0.01). The bone deposition ratio was $29.60{pm}10.50%$ in the experimental group and $12.10{pm}7.17%$ in the control group (p<0.01). Conclusion: These results suggest that compression after over-distraction during the mandibular distraction osteogenesis is an effective method of increasing the amount of newly formed bone in distracted area.