Figure 4. Average elastic moduli (E₃) in the direction of maximum stiffness (upper Figs.) and differences compared with dentate mandibles (lower Figs.). The edentulous mandibles are stiffer facially than lingually, especially in the ramus. Edentulous mandibles were stiffer over most of their cortical surface than dentate mandibles, except for several sites, mostly in the anterior part of the ramus.