Changes of mastication muscles in unilateral chew in rats

Objective: To study the effect of unilateral chew on mastication muscles.Methods: 60 white rats were divided into three experiment groups and three control groups.The right upper and lower posterion teeth of all the experiment groups were ground to the gingival level without occlusal contact.The rats of the first experiment and control groups were killed 4 weeks later,and those of the second and third groups were killed 10,16 weeks later respectively.The pathological changes of mastication muscles were studied.Results: There were pathognostic changes in mastication muscles in unilateral chew.Conclusion: The unilateral chew is one of the causes of temporomandibular joint disorders.