Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the changes on biomechanical characteristics of masticatory muscles of rat after using bite plate.
Methods: 30 growing rats were selected to wear the bite plate for four weeks. The changes of contractive force and time of masticatory muscles were measured by method and technique of biomechanics.
Results: The biomechanical characteristics of masticatory musclse changed significantly. The contractive tension and contraction time of masseter muscles increased shortened respectively, while that of the digastric muscles increased and prolonged.
Conclusion: This suggests that the orthopedic mechanism of the bite plate is to alter the original masticatory muscle dynamics and finally to reach the goal of functional jaw orthopedics.