Increased vertical dimension effects on masseter muscle fiber phenotype during maturation.

Objective: To determine changes in mouse myosin heavy chain (MyHC) protein expression that may occur with a clinically relevant vertical dimension of occlusion (VDO) increase.

Materials And Methods: Six CD-1 male mice (age: 6 weeks) underwent a 10% bite opening to replicate the clinical condition using composite on the maxillary molars and were compared to six age-matched controls. Mice were sacrificed at day 7 and 14 after bite opening.