title: Effects of dietary consistency on craniofacial and occlusal development in the rat.
abstract: Moderate differences in the hardness of diet are related to significant differences in maxillary width and other measures of facial size. Probably even more important is a relationship to the coordination of growth of different parts of the dentofacial complex. Muscular stimulation mediated through occlusal function seems to play a significant role in the coordinated development of facial structures.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002508:Cephalometry; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000209:etiology; D008406:Masseter Muscle / Q000254:growth & development; D008437:Maxilla / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008445:Maxillofacial Development; D009058:Mouth Breathing / Q000150:complications; D024510:Muscle Development; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D051381:Rats