Effects of dietary consistency on craniofacial and occlusal development in the rat.
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.
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