The effect of diet on palatal prosthetic coverage in rats.
Previous studies have used a rate model for examination of the histopathology of oral candidiasis or mucosal coverage with dental prostheses. These studies have been complicated by the presence of accumulated debris between mucosa and prostheses.


OBJECTIVE
The present study was undertaken to develop further the Wistar rat as a suitable animal model on which to study the effects of dental prostheses on oral mucosa.


METHODS
The effects of three dietary regimes, used for 7 and 14 days, upon debris accumulation under denture-like appliances and measurable epithelial parameters were analysed by computerised planimetry.


RESULTS
Individual variation in animal weights during the study was noted, with some appliance-wearing animals exhibiting a weight gain while others lost weight. A powdered diet used in a paste form gave the least accumulation of debris under appliances and the least differences between appliance wearers and controls.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of the Wistar rat model utilising the past diet described is indicated for future investigation of the effect of prostheses on oral mucosa.
Barclay
S C
SC
Department of Prosthodontics, Glasgow Dental Hospital and School NHS Trust, UK.
MacDonald
D G
DG
Watson
I B
IB
D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000009:adverse effects; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D001835:Body Weight; D003827:Denture, Complete, Upper / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007633:Keratins; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*; D010159:Palate / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013282:Stomatitis, Denture / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D013499:Surface Properties
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D007633:Keratins