title: The effect of diet on palatal prosthetic coverage in rats.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Glasgow Dental Hospital and School NHS Trust, UK.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Barclay
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.forename: I B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Watson
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D007633:Keratins