Sources of variability in rat caries studies: weaning age and diet fed during tooth eruption.

A factorial design (2x2) was used to study the caries effect of two diets (starch based versus stock) fed to rat dams and their litters, and also of variations in the weaning age (19 versus 25 days). Higher and reproducible caries scores were obtained in rats which were fed a purified starch-based diet, weaned at 19 days of age, and subsequently given a cariogenic challenge.