Search

Food processing wears down teeth, thus affecting tooth functionality and evolutionary success. Other than intrinsic silica phytoliths, extrinsic mineral dust/grit adhering to plants causes tooth wear in mammalian herbivores. Dental microwear texture analysis (DMTA) is widely applied to infer diet from microscopic dental wear traces. The relationship between external abrasives and dental microwear texture (DMT) formation remains elusive. Feeding experiments with sheep have shown negligible effects of dust-laden grass and browse, suggesting that intrinsic properties of plants are more important. Here, we explore the effect of clay- to sand-sized mineral abrasives (quartz, volcanic ash, loess, kaolin) on DMT in a controlled feeding experiment with guinea pigs. By adding 1, 4, 5, or 8% mineral abrasives to a pelleted base diet, we test for the effect of particle size, shape, and amount on DMT. Wear by fine-grained quartz (>5/<50 µm), loess, and kaolin is not significantly different from the abrasive-free control diet. Fine silt-sized quartz (∼5 µm) results in higher surface anisotropy and lower roughness (polishing effect). Coarse-grained volcanic ash leads to significantly higher complexity, while fine sands (130 to 166 µm) result in significantly higher roughness. Complexity and roughness values exceed those from feeding experiments with guinea pigs who received plants with different phytolith content. Our results highlight that large (>95-µm) external silicate abrasives lead to distinct microscopic wear with higher roughness and complexity than caused by mineral abrasive-free herbivorous diets. Hence, high loads of mineral dust and grit in natural diets might be identified by DMTA, also in the fossil record., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interest.

Microwear, the quantification of microscopic scratches and pits on the occlusal surfaces of tooth enamel, is commonly used as a paleodietary proxy. For ungulates (hoofed mammals), scratch-dominant microwear distinguishes modern grazers from browsers, presumably as a result of abrasion from grass phytoliths (biogenic silica). However, it is also likely that exogenous grit (i.e. soil, dust) is a contributing factor to these scratch-dominant patterns, which may reflect soil ingestion that varies with feeding height and/or environmental conditions (e.g. dust production in open and/or arid habitats). This study assessed the contribution of exogenous grit to tooth wear by measuring the effects of fine- and medium-grained silica sand on tooth enamel using a novel live-animal tooth-molding technique. It therefore constitutes the first controlled feeding experiment using ungulates and the first in vivo experiment using abrasives of different sizes. Four sheep were fed three diet treatments: (1) a mixture of Garrison and Brome hay (control), (2) hay treated with fine-grained silica sand (180-250 µm) and (3) hay treated with medium-grained silica sand (250-425 µm). We found a significant increase in pit features that was correlated with an increase in grain size of grit, corroborating earlier chewing simulation experiments that produced pits through grit-induced abrasion (i.e. the 'grit effect'). Our results support an interpretation of large silica grains fracturing to create smaller, more abundant angular particles capable of abrasion, with jaw movement defining feature shape (i.e. scratch or pit)., (© 2015. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.)

Objective: The knowledge of an animal's age is important for disease probability, prognoses, or epidemiological questions, but unfortunately, it is often unknown for dogs in animal shelters. A simple estimating procedure is preferable being quick and easy to perform, even for non-veterinarians., Material and Methods: In 295 dogs the dimension of light reflection (diameter in millimetres), visible on the posterior lens capsule using a penlight, the grade of dental abrasion and dental tartar were documented photographically and the exact weight and age in days were obtained. These photographs were evaluated blinded. The dogs were divided randomly into two groups. The first group was used to establish a model for age determination using linear and logistic regression models considering the documented parameters, which was then validated with the data of the second group., Results: The size of ocular light reflection and age correlated significantly (r = 0.781; p < 0.001; sy,x = 2.45 years [SD of y for given x]). The linear regression model gave the final equation: Estimated age [months] = 13.954 + 33.400 × lens reflection [mm] + 8.406 × dental abrasion [grade] + 8.871 × tartar [grade] with a standard error of estimation of 2.26 years., Conclusion and Clinical Relevance: Age determination, even based on three parameters results in a large standard deviation making age estimation in dogs very crude.

The power stroke of mastication has been traditionally divided into two parts, one which precedes centric occlusion, and the other which follows it-"Phase I" and "Phase II," respectively. Recent studies of primate mastication have called into question the role of Phase II in food processing, as they have found little muscle activity or accompanying bone strain following centric occlusion. That said, many researchers today look to Phase II facets to relate diet to patterns of dental microwear. This suggests the need to reevaluate microwear patterns on Phase I facets. Here we use texture analysis to compare and contrast microwear on facets representing both phases in three primate species with differing diets (Alouatta palliata, Cebus apella, and Lophocebus albigena). Results reaffirm that microwear patterns on Phase II facets better distinguish taxa with differing diets than do those on Phase I facets. Further, differences in microwear textures between facet types for a given taxon may themselves reflect diet. Some possible explanations for differences in microwear textures between facet types are proposed., ((c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Tooth wear is often suggested as an important factor limiting the life span of free-ranging wildlife. Given the frequent occurrence of poor dental health in captive animals reported in the literature, one would expect tooth health to be a limiting factor in captivity as well. Additionally, it could be assumed that brachydont (browsing) animals are more susceptible to dental health problems than are hypsodont (grazing) animals, given current indications for systematic increased tooth wear in some browsing species. A pilot survey of necropsy reports of adult captive wild ruminants (n = 294, 12 species) in one facility was performed in order to test these hypotheses and to calculate the incidence of irregular tooth wear. The overall incidence of irregular tooth wear was 20%, with a very high proportion of reports that did not mention the teeth at all. In contrast to this study's hypotheses, animals with irregular tooth wear were older than animals that died from other causes, indicating that reaching above-average age was a prerequisite for the development of reported abnormalities in this data set. A grazing species (blackbuck, Antilope cervicapra) was most affected, whereas two browsing species were not affected. Affected species had been regularly fed on sandy soil, whereas browsers had received feeds from racks, indicating that husbandry practices are most important for dental health. There was a high proportion of reported serous fat atrophy in animals with irregular tooth wear, indicating the clinical relevance of the problem. On average, adult individuals of the species investigated reached 41% of the maximum reported life span. Although this number appears low, the lack of comparative data from other facilities does not allow for conclusions on the adequacy of the husbandry practices used.

Captive giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) mostly do not attain the longevity possible for this species and frequently have problems associated with low energy intake and fat storage mobilization. Abnormal tooth wear has been among the causes suggested as an underlying problem. This study utilizes a tooth wear scoring method ("mesowear") primarily used in paleobiology. This scoring method was applied to museum specimens of free-ranging (n=20) and captive (n=41) giraffes. The scoring system allows for the differentiation between attrition--(typical for browsers, as browse contains little abrasive silica) and abrasion--(typical for grazers, as grass contains abrasive silica) dominated tooth wear. The dental wear pattern of the free-ranging population is dominated by attrition, resembles that previously published for free-ranging giraffe, and clusters within browsing herbivores in comparative analysis. In contrast, the wear pattern of the captive population is dominated by abrasion and clusters among grazing herbivores in comparative analyses. A potential explanation for this difference in tooth wear is likely related to the content of abrasive elements in zoo diets. Silica content (measured as acid insoluble ash) is low in browse and alfalfa. However, grass hay and the majority of pelleted compound feeds contain higher amounts of silica. It can be speculated that the abnormal wear pattern in captivity compromises tooth function in captive giraffe, with deleterious long-term consequences.

The ring-tailed lemurs at Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve, Madagascar, exhibit a high frequency of severe wear and antemortem tooth loss. As part of a long-term study, we collected dental data on 83 living adult ring-tailed lemurs during 2003 and 2004. Among these individuals, 192 teeth were scored as absent. The most frequently missing tooth position is M1 (24%). As M1 is the first tooth to erupt, its high frequency of absence (primarily a result of wear) is not remarkable. However, the remaining pattern of tooth loss does not correlate with the sequence of eruption. We suggest that this pattern is a function of 1) feeding ecology, as hard, tough tamarind fruit is a key fallback food of ring-tailed lemurs living in gallery forests; 2) food processing, as tamarind fruit is primarily processed in the P3-M1 region of the mouth; and 3) tooth structure, as ring-tailed lemurs possess thin dental enamel. The incongruity between thin enamel and use of a hard, tough fallback food suggests that ring-tailed lemurs living in riverine gallery forests may rely on resources not used in the past. When comparing dental health in the same individuals (n=50) between 2003 and 2004, we found that individual tooth loss can show a rapid increase over the span of one year, increasing by as much as 20%. Despite this rapid loss, individuals are able to survive, sometimes benefiting from unintentional assistance from conspecifics, from which partially processed tamarind fruit is obtained. Although less frequent in this population, these longitudinal data also illustrate that ring-tailed lemurs lose teeth due to damage and disease, similar to other nonhuman primates. The relationship between tooth loss, feeding ecology, dental structure, and individual life history in this population has implications for interpreting behavior based on tooth loss in the hominid fossil record.

In ungulates, tooth wear is often suggested as a proximate cause of senescence. Tooth wear is expected to be sex-dependent since energetic requirements and food selection varies largely between sexes in sexually dimorphic ungulates. Furthermore, tooth wear may lower mastication efficiency, and we predict a negative correlation between tooth wear and body weight or condition. We tested these predictions on data on tooth wear (estimated as height of first molar) of 1,311 male and 1,348 female red deer ( Cervus elaphus) aged 3-25 years and harvested along the west coast of Norway. The rate of tooth wear decreased with age. Males wear teeth at a higher rate (from 0.61 mm/year in 4-year olds to 0.45 mm/year in 11-year olds) than females (from 0.52 mm/year in 4-year olds to 0.39 mm/year in 11-year olds). Molar height correlated positively with body weight in both sexes, but not after adjusting for body size. Molar height was strongly dependent on body size in 3-year-old individuals (when tooth wear is minimal). Earlier reports in the literature of a positive correlation between tooth height and body weight may therefore be due to initial size differences rather than differences in condition due to tooth wear.

Ageing is accompanied by the natural loss and wear of hard and soft dental tissues. While ageing can influence pathological processes affecting the dentition, it is not the cause of these processes. The development, growth, attrition, abrasion, and loss of teeth is determined in part by ageing. Periodontal disease is the result of the accumulation of dental plaque and can occur in young animals. Unfortunately, gingivitis or periodontitis is often not diagnosed or diagnosed too late by pet owners and veterinarians.

An alternative hypothesis to abrasion and erosion for the pathogenesis of noncarious cervical lesions was put forward in 1984; the so-called occlusal theory suggested that tensile stresses from occlusal overload could be involved in the pathogenesis of noncarious cervical lesions and that bending stresses applied to teeth could cause disruption of the surface enamel, resulting in increased susceptibility to dissolution and abrasion at the affected sites and in the development of wedge-shaped lesions. This theory has gained increased acceptance in recent years, although absolute scientific evidence has been scant. These lesions also occur in animals, in particular, the domestic cat, in which they are called feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions. A variety of theories about pathogenesis of these lesions have been put forward, but there is some evidence that occlusal overload may be a contributory factor in the development of an inflammatory response in the periodontal membrane and the presence of enzymes associated with resorption in the gingival crevice. Further investigation may help define a common etiology between the pathogenesis of feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions and noncarious cervical lesions.

One component of the "dual selection hypothesis" (Greenfield [1992a] Year. Phys. Anthropol. 35:153-185) is that the tips of female canines are commonly blunted and more frequently so than those of conspecific males. Data derived from two randomly selected age-graded samples of Macaca fascicularis (n = 70) and Colobus badius (n = 59) show that at least 80% of the females exhibit tip blunting on one or both canines and that frequencies of blunting are far greater than those of conspecific males in both jaws. Sexual dimorphism in mandibular canine morphology and wear and other recently critiqued aspects of the "dual selection hypothesis" (Plavcan and Kelley [1996] Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 99:379-387.) are also discussed.

This article explains what is needed for successful extraction of diseased cheek teeth and how to realign the occlusal surface. Incisor teeth procedures and correcting abnormalities of cheek tooth crown wear are also discussed along with wolf and floating teeth.

In this clinical study, 41 metal full crown restorations of canine teeth were placed in 18 working dogs. Twenty-six canine teeth had severe attrition with no involvement of the pulp cavities; 15 fractured canine teeth were endodontically treated. With the exception of one tooth, at least one-third of the coronal part of each canine tooth was available for a supragingivally performed, minimal tooth crown preparation. A dental resin luting cement technique was used to bond the electrolytically etched crown (made from an alloy of cobalt-chrome-molybdenum) to the tooth. The metal crowns were slightly shorter and with a more rounded tip than the original tooth. Posts or post-and-core techniques were not used. Median follow-up period was 30 months (range 2 to 61 months), at which time 36 crowns were found to be intact and functional. Five crowns were lost; three as a result of subsequent injury and fracture of the tooth below the crown; one as a result of use of less than one-third of the coronal portion of the tooth for retention of the crown; and one as a result of an oblique fracture of the root.

A Sumatran tiger had developed severely abraded canine teeth by biting on cage-bars. This resulted in weakening and marked sensitivity of the teeth. Indications for, techniques of and complications of restorative dental treatments are described. The outcome of different restorative dental treatments indicates that endodontic treatment should be carried out first if the fracture of a weakened tooth is anticipated. To improve retention, the acid-etch technique is preferred in combination with macroretentive preparations. In this case, amalgam was used successfully in combination with composite resin to restore function to a canine tooth with a large distal defect.

The accuracy of ageing horses by their dentition was assessed by comparing the dental features with the known dates of birth of 212 trotter horses and 189 Belgian draft horses. The horses ranged in age from two to 25 years. In both breeds it was observed that the shedding of the incisors and the appearance of the dental stars were the most reliable features for age determination. In young animals, the dental configuration was similar in both breeds. With increasing age the incisor teeth of draft horses were more liable to abrasion than those of trotter horses. The sequential changes in appearance of the permanent incisors occurred earlier in draft horses than in trotters.

Skulls (n = 301) of adult feral cats from Marion Island, a sub-Antarctic island, were examined macroscopically. Congenital anomalies, which were rare, included a few supernumerary premolars, located mesially to those normally present. Supernumerary roots, mainly of the maxillary third premolar, were found in just over 10% of cases. The maxillary second premolar was absent in 16.8% of skulls; dichotomous and double-formed roots of this tooth were present in 20.1% and 1.9% of cases, respectively. Enamel hypoplasia, which is most unusual in this species, was noted in 24.6% of cases, and persistent deciduous teeth in 2.0%. Dental abrasion, which was noted in 19.3% of cats, affected only 2.3% of teeth, most commonly the lower fourth and upper third premolars. Dental fractures, mainly complicated crown fractures and root fractures, were noted in 54.8% of cats and 7.0% of teeth. Fractures were found most commonly in the canine and carnassial teeth, as also were periapical lesions, which were often severe. Mandibular fractures in various stages of healing were found in 11 cats (3.7%); such fractures most frequently affected the body of the mandible and resulted in malunion. It was concluded that the high prevalence of dental fractures and associated periapical lesions probably exerted a significant adverse effect on health and survival in this population of feral cats.

Several studies have suggested that incisor microwear reflects diet and feeding adaptations of anthropoids. However, such studies have been largely qualitative, and interpretations have relied on anecdotal references to diet and tooth use reported in the socioecology literature. The current study relates incisor microwear in four anthropoid primates to specific ingestive behaviors and food types. Central incisor casts of wild-shot museum specimens of Hylobates lar, Macaca fascicularis, Pongo pygmaeus, and Presbytis thomasi were examined by scanning electron microscopy, and analyzed using a semiautomated image analysis procedure. Microwear patterns were used to generate predictions regarding diet and anterior tooth use. These predictions were evaluated using data collected during a 1 year study of feeding behavior of these same taxa in the wild (Ungar, 1992, 1994a,b). Results suggest that (1) enamel prism relief is associated with the effectiveness of etching reagents in foods, (2) dental calculus buildup results from a lack of incisor use and perhaps the ingestion of sugar-rich foods, (3) striation density varies with degree of anterior tooth use in the ingestion of abrasive food items, (4) striation breadth is proposed to relate to the ratio of exogenous grit to phytoliths consumed; and (5) preferred striation orientation indicates the direction that food items are pulled across the incisors during ingestion. It is concluded that incisor microwear studies can contribute to the understanding of diets and feeding behaviors of extinct primates.

This study describes the molar enamel microstructure of the greater galago, based on SEM study of four individuals. Galago molar enamel consists primarily of radially oriented Pattern 1 prisms. However, the most superficial enamel is characterized by regions of poorly developed prisms or nonprismatic enamel, and Pattern 3 prisms can be found at depths intermediate and deep to the enamel surface. Orientations of prism long axes relative to wear surfaces differ among functionally distinct regions (cuspal facets, Phase I/II facets, and crushing basins). Consequently, orientations of enamel crystallites relative to these surfaces also differ. Because crystallites are the structural unit involved in enamel abrasion, these differences in orientation may have important effects on molar wear patterns. Crystallite orientations differ most between cuspal facets and Phase I/II facet surfaces. Cuspal facets are characterized by near surface-parallel interprismatic and surface-oblique prismatic crystallites. Previous experimental studies suggest that this arrangement is most resistant to wear when surface-normal (compressive) loads predominate. In contrast, prismatic and interprismatic crystallites intercept Phase I/II facet surfaces obliquely, an arrangement expected to resist abrasion when surface-parallel (shearing) loads predominate. Superficial enamel is preserved at most basin surfaces, indicating that these regions are subject to comparatively little abrasive wear. These results support the hypothesis that galago occlusal enamel is organized so as to resist abrasion of different functional regions, a property that may prove important in maintaining functional efficiency. However, this largely reflects constraints of occlusal topography on a microstructure typical of many mammals and thus does not appear to represent a structural innovation.

This study quantitatively examined molar microwear in nine species of extant small-bodied faunivorous primates and microchiropterans. Comparative analyses were performed within the food category faunivory, both between hard- and soft-object feeding faunivores and between primarily insectivorous and carnivorous taxa. Additionally, microwear in faunivores was compared to that reported in the literature for frugivorous and folivorous primates. The results indicated that although insectivores and carnivores could not be distinguished by microwear analyses, hard-object faunivores (i.e., those that primarily consume beetles or actively comminute bone) can be readily distinguished from soft-object faunivores (i.e., moth, caterpillar, or vertebrate flesh specialists). The hard-object faunivores consistently exhibited greater pit frequencies (in excess of 40%). Furthermore, comparisons of these microwear data on faunivorous mammals to previous work on frugivorous and folivorous primates (Teaford, 1988, pers. comm.; Teaford and Runestad, 1992, pers. comm.; Teaford and Walker: American Journal of Physical Anthropology 64:191-200, 1984) permitted three observations to be made. 1) Faunivores tend to have higher mean feature densities than either frugivores or folivores, although these differences are not consistently statistically distinct. 2) Faunifores and frugivores that feed on hard-objects have comparable mean pit frequencies. 3) Although it is impossible to distinguish faunivores and folivores on the basis of metric analysis of gross molar morphology, this distinction can be made on microwear criteria. Both hard- and soft-object faunivores exhibit much higher mean pit frequencies than primarily folivorous species.

Numerous digestive tract diseases in pet rabbits and guinea pigs result from both an inherent physiological predisposition and from poor feeding and husbandry. A large proportion of digestive disturbances in rabbits and guinea pigs are secondary to changes in the oral cavity caused by inadequate teeth wear. The required regular trimming of the cheek teeth using a modified spatula and hollow pair of pincers is described and illustrated. The symptoms, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of a selection of digestive disorders, as commonly encountered in small animal practice, are presented. The difficulties of using antibiotics in view of the gram positive intestinal flora and possible dysbacteria, dysentery and enterotoxaemia are considered. Finally, advice on feeding and on the rearing of orphan neonates is given.

Recent microwear analyses have demonstrated that wear patterns can be correlated with dietary differences. However, much of this work has been based on analyses of museum material where dates and locations of collection are not well known. In view of these difficulties, it would be desirable to compare microwear patterns for different genera collected from the same area at the same time. The opportunity to do this was provided by the collections of the Smithsonian Venezuelan Project (Handley, 1976), in which multiple primate genera were collected from the same humid tropical forest sites within the same month. The monkeys represent a wide range of dietary preferences, and include Saimiri, Cebus, Chiropotes, Ateles, Aotus, Pithecia, and Alouatta. As in previous microwear analyses, epoxy replicas were prepared from dental impressions, as described by Rose (1983) and Teaford and Oyen (1989). Two micrographs were taken of facet 9 on an upper second molar of each specimen. Computations and analyses were the same as described by Teaford and Robinson (1989). Results reaffirm previously documented differences in dental microwear between primates that feed on hard objects versus those that do not--with Pithecia and Alouatta at the extremes of a range of microwear patterns including more subtle differences between species with intermediate diets. The subtle microwear differences are by no means easy to document in museum samples. However, additional results suggest that 1) the width of microscopic scratches may be a poor indicator of dietary differences, 2) large and small pits may be formed differently, and 3) there are very few seasonal differences in dental microwear in the primates at these humid tropical forest sites.

One problem with dental microwear analyses of museum material is that investigators can never be sure of the diets of the animals in question. An obvious solution to this problem is to work with live animals. Recent work with laboratory primates has shown that high resolution dental impressions can be obtained from live animals. The purpose of this study was to use similar methods to begin to document rates and patterns of dental microwear for primates in the wild. Thirty-three Alouatta palliata were captured during the wet season at Hacienda La Pacifica near Canas, Costa Rica. Dental impressions were taken and epoxy casts of the teeth were prepared using the methods of Teaford and Oyen (1989a). Scanning electron micrographs were taken of the left mandibular second molars at magnifications of 200x and 500x. Lower magnification images were used to calculate rates of wear, and higher magnification images were used to measure the size and shape of microwear features. Results indicate that, while basic patterns of dental microwear are similar in museum samples and samples of live, wild-trapped animals of the same species, ecological differences between collection locales may lead to significant intraspecific differences in dental microwear. More importantly, rates of microwear provide the first direct evidence of differences in molar use between monkeys and humans.

The aim of this review is to bring together data that link tooth morphology with tooth function and tooth growth: We aim to show how the microanatomy of hominoid teeth is providing evidence about rates of tooth growth that are likely to be a consequence of both masticatory strategy and social behaviour. First, we present data about incisor and molar tooth wear in wild short chimpanzees that demonstrate how crown heights are likely to be related to relative tooth use in a broad sense. Following this we review recent studies that describe the microanatomy of hominoid tooth enamel and show how these studies are providing evidence about tooth crown formation times in hominoids, as well as improving estimates for the age at death of certain juvenile fossil hominids. Next, we outline what is known about the mechanisms of tooth growth in the sexually dimorphic canine teeth of chimpanzees and compare these patterns of growth with tooth growth patterns in the canines of three fossil hominids from Laetoli, Tanzania. Finally, we discuss how selection pressures that operate to increase or reduce the size of anterior teeth interact with jaw size. We argue that the space available to grow developing teeth in the mandibles of juvenile hominoids is determined by the growth patterns of the mandibles, which in turn reflect masticatory strategy. The consequences of selection pressure to grow large or small anterior teeth are likely to be reflected in the times at which these teeth are able to emerge into occlusion.

Examination of incisor microwear in three species of Colobus revealed that the predominantly folivorous C. badius more closely resembles C. satanas, a seed predator/folivore, than C. guereza, another predominantly folivorous species. This demonstrates that species of the same broad dietary category can have very different patterns of incisor microwear, indicative of differences in food procurement behavior and/or the physical properties of dietary items for some portion of the diet. Conversely, species of different categories can have microwear patterns that, superficially at least, are quite similar. The dissimilarity in incisor microwear between C. badius and C. guereza is mirrored to a certain extent in molar microwear, although the differences are not nearly so great on the molars. The differences between C. badius and C. guereza may involve different food items in the major, folivorous portions of their diets, or they may relate to differences in the very minor fruit and bark components. The similar microwear patterns of C. badius and C. satanas demonstrate that incisor microwear by itself is unreliable for assigning fossil species to broad dietary categories. Incisor microwear can be used to infer finer dietary distinctions in fossil species for which dietary category has been determined by other means.

Teeth from cattle, sheep, and horses that ingested various fluoride intakes and teeth from field studies of these species plus deer, elk, and bison were examined for abnormalities. Approximately 99,000 animals in 322 herds were examined for fluorosis. From field studies, 988 cattle of various ages and with different degrees of dental fluorosis were slaughtered and necropsied. The severity of fluoride-induced mottling, hypoplasia, and abnormal abrasion of paired permanent incisor teeth was correlated with abrasion of premolar and molar (cheek) teeth that form and mineralize at approximately the same age. Severe irregular wear of cheek teeth impaired mastication and resulted in poor utilization of feed and unthriftiness. Excessive amounts of fluoride during tooth formation and mineralization induce characteristic dental changes. Offspring from the fluoride-affected animals did not have discernible fluoride-induced lesions in the deciduous teeth.

This paper presents information on the cranial and dental anomalies observed in the crania of three species of platyrrhine monkeys collected in Nicaragua. Cranial anomalies that are discussed include plagiocephaly, bregmatic fontanelle bones, Wormian bones, cranial trauma, and heterotopic bones. Among the dental anomalies that were studied were the following: crazing caries, periodontal and pulpal disorders, alveolar thinning, mechanical loss, excessive attrition, shear bite, impacted molars, supernumerary teeth, congenital agencies, congenital crown aberration, and irregular placement.

Criteria for estimating the age of baboons using dental characteristics have been developed and tested. These criteria used eruption, wear, and color of the premolars and molars to characterize the ages of baboons in the range of 4--11 years of age. Ages greater than 11 were grouped into a single category. Using the criteria, three judges estimated independently the ages of 49 baboons, of known and unknown ages and of both sexes, with good agreement and precision. The rank order of the estimated ages was similar to the rank order of true ages for colony born animals.

Marked dental disfigurement and abnormal tooth wear patterns were observed in black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) taken from an area near an industrial fluoride source in northwestern Washington. Fluoride levels in the bones of these deer were from 10 to 35 times higher than levels in the bones of normal animals. These levels are similar to those associated with fluorosis of cattle.

Nine Dall's sheep (Ovis dalli dalli) collected in the Ruby Mountains of southwestern Yukon were examined for aberrations of the tooth arcade and mandible. Missing and displaced teeth were common in older sheep (greater than or equal to 6 yr). Necrosis of the mandible was observed in five of eight rams and in one ewe. Corynebacterium pyogenes was cultured from exudates from two rams with enlarged fistulated mandibles. The sequence of events leading to lesions of the tooth arcade and to "lumpy jaw" is postulated to be associated with abnormal wearing of teeth and a disrupted alignment of the tooth arcade, impaction of vegetable matter between teeth and between the gingiva and the root of the tooth, and penetration of the traumatized gingiva membrane and alveolus by oral bacteria which induce a necrotizing infection.

Dental microwear analyses are beginning to provide new insights into the intricacies of jaw movement and tooth use in modern and extinct mammals. However, these analyses are also raising new questions that are best answered through studies of live animals with known diets. The process of taking dental impressions from live animals is a difficult one that presents problems different from those encountered in working with museum material. This report presents a review of some of those problems together with solutions that have been developed in the course of laboratory work with nonhuman primates. It also summarizes recent developments in dental casting.

The snouts of 2701 pork, bacon and heavy pigs killed at five abattoirs in England and Scotland during March to July 1974 were examined for evidence of atrophic rhinitis. Lesions were graded 1 to 5 according to severity. Suspicious lesions were present in 75-7 per cent of the sample. There was obvious atrophy of the turbinates in 44-7 per cent (grade 2 to 5) and severe atrophy in 17-5 per cent (grades 3 to 5). Foreign bodies were found in or between the posterior cheek teeth of 5-3 per cent of the sample. There was frequently an associated gingivitis. Other lesions seen included black discolouration of the teeth, severe tooth wear and osteoarthrosis of the temporomandibular joint. It was concluded that the incidence of atrophic rhinitis could have increased markedly since the last survey of the United Kingdom was undertaken in 1956/57 and some form of disease-monitoring service was urgently needed.

Dental microwear analyses have raised new hopes and questions for functional morphologists. One hope is that analyses will allow insights into subtle dietary differences of extinct species. One major question is whether seasonal and/or habitat differences in dental microwear are reliably detectable. The extensive collections of Cebus nigrivittatus obtained by the Smithsonian Venezuelan Project allowed us to examine seasonal and habitat differences in dental microwear. Specimens were collected from three distinct ecological life zones that are distinguished by both the amount of rainfall and its seasonability. Environmental variation is generally correlated with variation in resource availability which, in C. nigrivittatus, affects diet. Published field studies indicate that these animals depend more on dry hard fruit and chitinous invertebrates during drier times and succulent fruits and caterpillars during wetter times of the year. As in previous microwear analyses, epoxy replicas were prepared from dental impressions, and the replicas were examined under a scanning electron microscope. Two micrographs were taken of facet 9 on M2 of each specimen. Mean values for the proportion of pits (vs. scratches), pit width, and scratch width were computed for each of 62 individuals and compared between ecological zones and collecting dates by using a multiple comparison test. Results indicate that, while seasonal differences in molar microwear in C. nigrivittatus are perhaps reliably detectable, 1) they are small in magnitude, 2) they are only detectable in certain ecological life zones, and 3) they are not of the order of magnitude that will obscure major interspecific differences in molar microwear such as those between C. apella and C. nigrivittatus.

Twelve sets of incisors of Cape mountain zebras, 9 of which were from known-age individuals ranging in age from 11 months to 19 years, from the Mountain Zebra National Park, are described and depicted to illustrate not only the eruption and replacement sequence, but also the changes with increasing age in the configuration of the occlusal surfaces and of the infudibulum. Infundibula persist in maxillary incisors longer than in mandibular incisors. Shallow infundibula were still present in the maxillary incisors of a 19-year-old mare at least 4 years later than in plains zebras, E. burchelli, from the Kruger National Park. The physiological life span of Cape mountain zebras appears to be at least 26 years.