Functional influence on sutural bone apposition in the growing rat.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to quantify the influence of reduced masticatory muscle function on sutural bone apposition in the growing rat.

Methods: Twenty-six growing male albino rats were randomly divided into 2 equal groups; 1 (hard-diet group) received the ordinary diet of hard pellets, and the other (soft-diet group) received the powdered form of the ordinary diet mixed with water. The experimental period started when the rats were 4 weeks old and lasted 42 days.