title: Influence of masticatory hypofunction on the alveolar bone and the molar periodontal ligament space in the rat maxilla.
abstract: Previous studies have established that complete absence of masticatory function results in a narrower alveolar process and periodontal ligament (PDL). The aim of our study was to investigate, for the first time, both the alveolar process and the PDL in masticatory hypofunction. Twenty-six rats, 3 wk of age, were randomly assigned to either a hard- or a soft-diet group (n = 13 each group). The rats were killed after 6 wk and their skulls were scanned using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). We measured the cross-sectional width of the space occupied by the PDL, as well as the cross-sectional alveolar socket surface (AS) and the cross-sectional root surface (RS). We also measured the width of the alveolar process. The alveolar process was narrower, the PDL width was thinner, and the AS was smaller in rats fed a soft diet compared with rats fed a hard diet. The PDL width was correlated to the alveolar process width and the AS. The narrower alveolar process found in rats fed a soft diet is the result of alterations to both the alveolar bone and the PDL. The correlation between them provides evidence that a reduction of occlusal loading induces a simultaneous response in both tissues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Section of Dental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Balazs J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Denes
authors.forename: Anestis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mavropoulos
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bresin
authors.forename: Stavros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kiliaridis
mesh_terms: D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology*; D008437:Maxilla / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008963:Molar / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography / Q000379:methods
keywords: alveolar bone; diet; mastication; maxilla; periodontal ligament