title: A novel experimental design model for increasing occlusal vertical dimension.
abstract: This study aimed to establish a rat model of increasing occlusal vertical dimension (iOVD) using a prosthodontic approach. The OVD was increased by bonding a maxillary, bilateral, posterior dental splint with a bearing ball while the occlusal stops that were made on the stone casts adjusted the occlusion and bonded in the mouths of adult Wistar rats (iOVD group); the controls did not receive a splint. Both groups were subdivided after splint insertion: 3 days and 1, 2, 3, or 4 weeks (n = 6/subgroup). The effects of iOVD were evaluated by radiographs, body weight, and histologic diagnosis of tooth and temporomandibular joints. There were no differences in body weights between the 2 groups; occlusal asymmetric dentition abrasions did not occur in the iOVD rats. The occlusal splints caused the remodeling of the periodontal tissue and condylar cartilage. Overall, an iOVD rat model can be constructed using prosthodontic techniques ensuring a balance of bilateral occlusal height.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  OVD, occlusal vertical dimension; iOVD, increasing occlusal vertical dimension; TMJ, temporomandibular joint; TMD, temporomandibular disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua College of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhiguang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shuyi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yonggang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qiao
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology; D016302:Centric Relation; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000473:pathology; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D001840:Dental Bonding; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D006965:Hyperplasia; D008297:Male; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000473:pathology; D008437:Maxilla; D023421:Models, Animal; D008963:Molar; D017090:Occlusal Splints; D016382:Orthodontic Appliance Design; D010519:Periodontium / Q000473:pathology; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013499:Surface Properties; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000473:pathology; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000473:pathology; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D019217:Tooth Attrition / Q000473:pathology; D014716:Vertical Dimension
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D003188:Composite Resins; C444701:Filtek Z250