Premium
Mineralization and wear of mandibular first molars in red deer ( Cervus elaphus ) of known age
Author(s) -
Kierdorf U.,
Becher J.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1997.tb05504.x
Subject(s) - enamel paint , molar , tooth wear , cervus elaphus , dentistry , mineralization (soil science) , demineralization , age groups , biology , materials science , orthodontics , medicine , ecology , soil water , demography , sociology
The degree of dental wear was measured in 41 mandibular first molars from red deer of known age (range 2–18 years). The calculated wear indices were positively correlated with age ( r = 0.780, P < 0.001). In the same sample, significant ( P < 0.001) differences in hardness (determined by microhardness testing) were observed between enamel and coronal dentine as well as between outer and inner enamel and dentine, respectively. In animals belonging to the same age group (three‐year‐olds, n = 11), a negative correlation ( r = ‐0.830, P = 0.0016) was found between wear index and maximum mean enamel hardness. In a sample of five specimens from this age group, a negative correlation ( r = ‐0.918, P = 0.028) between maximum calcium concentration of enamel (measured by electron microprobing) and wear index was also recorded. We concluded that the intensity of enamel mineralization had a decisive effect on the degree of dental wear. Measuring of enamel hardness and subsequent modification of wear scores or indices is therefore recommended for future studies on the relationship between age and the degree of dental attrition in deer.