EFFECT OF FOOD CONSISTENCY ON THE SHAPE OF THE ARTICULAR EMINENCE ANDTHE MANDIBLE - AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY ON THE RABBIT

The aim of this investigation was to ascertain what changes masticator y function could elicit in the shape of the articulating surface and t he growth of the mandible in a growing rabbit. Forty-seven rabbits wer e divided into two groups, a control group fed whole pellets and a 'so ft' group fed softened pellets and having their incisors shortened onc e a week. All the rabbits were killed at the age of 50 days and roentg enographed, after which the heads were freed of soft tissues, and the shape of the articulating eminence, the dimensions of the mandible and the maxilla, and intermaxillary relations were measured. The articula ting surface of the glenoid fossa was steeper in the soft group, the l ower border of the articulating eminence was located more inferiorly, and the mandible was more retrognathic. It is concluded that the diffe rence in functional stress affects the shape of the articular eminence and the intermaxillary relationship. When the condyle is functioning more on the eminence, the latter becomes flatter, and the mandible mov es forwards.