Role of attrition and occlusal contact in the physiology of the rat incisor. II. Diurnal rhythm in eruption and attrition.

Abstract

Rates of eruption and of attrition were measured on impeded and unimpeded rat incisors at 6 AM and 6 PM. The rhythm of unimpeded eruption and attrition was diurnal. The rates increased during the night, as do rates of other physiologic processes in the nocturnal animal. When eruption was impeded however, this rhythm was reversed by the inhibiting force of occlusal contact.