Dental erosion following clopidogrel administration in a dog: A case-based study.

A 10-year-old neutered male Chihuahua presented with unilateral dental erosion that occurred after several months of oral medications mixed with honey. A pH test was performed on all oral medications administered to the dogs to determine the cause of enamel erosion. Among the medications, the only acidic medication was clopidogrel (pH 2.65). To evaluate the effect of clopidogrel on the tooth surface under the same conditions as in the present patient, an additional preliminary study was designed in which two extracted teeth of another dog were immersed in a clopidogrel-honey mixture or only in honey. After a 3-week soaking of the extracted tooth in the clopidogrel-honey mixture, field-emission scanning electron microscope analysis revealed a rougher surface, whereas energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis showed a reduced Ca/C ratio compared to the control tooth. In this case, prolonged exposure of the tooth surface to clopidogrel may be a cause of dental erosion.

Infundibula of equine maxillary cheek teeth: Part 2: Morphological variations and pathological changes.

Incomplete cemental filling of the infundibula of equine maxillary cheek teeth (CT) is a common feature. Depending on the extent of the defect, three stages of infundibular decay have been suggested. However, histomorphological criteria to identify non-pathological abnormalities and destructive changes have not been defined. Six hundred and eighty eight CT with no evidence of dental diseases and 55 diseased permanent, fully erupted maxillary CT were evaluated on a macroscopic level by assessing the occlusal surface and horizontal sections, including porphyrin assays to detect residual blood within the infundibular cementum. Selected specimens were investigated on a microscopic level using routine and immunohistological staining methods to identify possible routes for the spread of infectious agents from the infundibulum into the endodontic system. Infundibular cemental hypoplasia was defined as a non-pathological developmental abnormality and was detected in >50% of CT with no evidence of dental diseases and in >70% of diseased CT. The first molar (Triadan 09) showed the highest prevalence (75%) of infundibular cemental hypoplasia. The mesial infundibulum was more often affected than the distal infundibulum. Infundibular erosion was considered as the most appropriate term to describe destructive infundibular changes. Infundibular erosion was present in <6% of CT with no evidence of dental diseases, but was detected in >27% of diseased teeth, always accompanied by endodontic disease. This suggests that teeth affected by infundibular cemental hypoplasia are prone to destructive erosion, which possibly leads to endodontic disease. Morphological factors that supplement this ethological hypothesis were described. In 74% of infundibula residual blood was identified, although no vital blood vessels were detected. It is assumed that this content of blood remained in the ample infundibular cemental blood system after tooth eruption and creates a favorable environment for microbial growth. The infundibular enamel was characterised by numerous infoldings to variable degrees and depths. In certain areas focal enamel aplasia was observed. These morphological features might contribute to microbiological settlement and spread of infectious agents through the infundibular wall into the endodontic system.

Influencia de los diferentes sistemas adhesivos en la resistencia de la unión al microcizallamiento en superficies dentarias erosionadas / Influence of different adhesive systems on bond strength to tooth surfaces eroded microshear

El objetivo fue analizar in vitro la resistencia de la unión al cizallamiento de sistemas adhesivos convencional y autocondicionante sobre la superficie de esmalte y dentina después del proceso erosivo ocasionado por una bebida ácida. Cuarenta incisivos bovinos fueron seccionados y desgastados hasta obtener superficies planas en esmalte y dentina. Sobre estas, fue simulado un proceso erosivo utilizando Coca-Cola® por 10 días, 4 veces al día durante 10 min. Después, las muestras fueron divididas en 4 grupos: G1-esmalte y G2-dentina, ambas superficies hibridizadas con adhesivo convencional (Adper Single Bond II); G3-esmalte y G4-dentina, hibridizados con sistema autocondicionante (Clearfil SE Bond). Cilindros de resina compuesta (Filtek Flow Z350) con 2 mm. de altura por 0,8 mm. de diámetro fueron confeccionados y almacenados en agua deionizada a 37º C por 24h. Terminado el período, fueron sometidos al test de microcizallamiento en Emic DL 2000 con una velocidad de 1mm/min. hasta la fractura. Los resultados fueron sometidos al análisis estadístico (ANOVA One-way) y las medias comparadas por el Teste post-hoc Games-Howell. Los grupos G1 y G3 presentaron los mayores valores medios (11,92 e 14,93MPa respectivamente) con diferencia estadística entre si (p<0.05). Los grupos G2 y G4 presentaron los menores valores (2,35 e 5,50MPa respectivamente) con diferencias estadísticas entre si (p<0.05). Se concluye que los sistemas adhesivos testados actuaron efectivamente sobre el esmalte después de la erosión, no siendo tan eficaz en la dentina, probablemente, debido al over etching

The aim of the present study was to verify the shear bond strength of total and self-etching systems on the surface of enamel and dentine after erosive process. 40 bovine incisors were sectioned and finished until the surfaces got planned in enamel and dentine. On these, erosive process was simulated by using Coke® for 10 days, 4 times by day during 10 min. After, the samples were divided in 4 groups: G1-enamel and G2-dentine, both surfaces were hybridized with total-etching adhesive system (Adper Single Bond II); G3-enamel and G4-dentine were hybridized with self-etching system (Clearfil SE Bond). Resin composite cylinders (Filtek Flow Z350) with 2 mm of height for 0,8 mm of diameter were constructed on these hybridized surfaces and after they were stored in distilled water at 37ºC for 24h. Subsequently, they were submitted to the microshear test in Emic DL 2000 with speed of 1mm/min until failure. The results were submitted to the statistical analysis (ANOVA One-way) and the means were compared by the Test post-hoc Games-Howell. The groups G1 and G3 presented the highest mean values (11.92 and 14.93MPa respectively) however they differed statically itself (p<0.05). By the other hand, the groups G2 and G4 showed the lowest mean values of bond strength (2.35 and 5.50MPa respectively) and they were statistically differents (p<0.05). It can be concluded that both adhesive systems acted effectively on the enamel after erosion process, but on dentin the adhesives were not so efficient due to over etching

Irregular tooth wear and longevity in captive wild ruminants: a pilot survey of necropsy reports.

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.

A comparison of salivary pH in sympatric wild lemurs (Lemur catta and Propithecus verreauxi) at Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve, Madagascar.

Chemical deterioration of teeth is common among modern humans, and has been suggested for some extinct primates. Dental erosion caused by acidic foods may also obscure microwear signals of mechanical food properties. Ring-tailed lemurs at the Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve (BMSR), Madagascar, display frequent severe tooth wear and subsequent tooth loss. In contrast, sympatric Verreaux's sifaka display far less tooth wear and infrequent tooth loss, despite both species regularly consuming acidic tamarind fruit. We investigated the potential impact of dietary acidity on tooth wear, collecting data on salivary pH from both species, as well as salivary pH from ring-tailed lemurs at Tsimanampesotse National Park, Madagascar. We also collected salivary pH data from ring-tailed lemurs at the Indianapolis Zoo, none of which had eaten for at least 12 hr before data collection. Mean salivary pH for the BMSR ring-tailed lemurs (8.098, n=41, SD=0.550) was significantly more alkaline than Verreaux's sifaka (7.481, n=26, SD=0.458). The mean salivary pH of BMSR (8.098) and Tsimanampesotse (8.080, n=25, SD=0.746) ring-tailed lemurs did not differ significantly. Salivary pH for the Indianapolis Zoo sample (8.125, n=16, SD=0.289) did not differ significantly from either the BMSR or Tsimanampesotse ring-tailed lemurs, but was significantly more alkaline than the BMSR Verreaux's sifaka sample. Regardless of the time between feeding and collection of pH data (from several minutes to nearly 1 hr), salivary pH for each wild lemur was above the "critical" pH of 5.5, below which enamel demineralization occurs. Thus, the high pH of lemur saliva suggests a strong buffering capacity, indicating the impact of acidic foods on dental wear is short-lived, likely having a limited effect. However, tannins in tamarind fruit may increase friction between teeth, thereby increasing attrition and wear in lemurs. These data also suggest that salivary pH varies between lemur species, corresponding to broad dietary categories.

Evidence for a trade-off between early growth and tooth wear in Svalbard reindeer.

Ruminants depend on efficient physical degradation of forage through chewing to increase the surface area of the food particles presented to the microflora. Fossil evidence suggests that increased molar height is an adaptation for wear tolerance in dry ecosystems with sparse vegetation, but no study has shown selection pressure for hypsodonty in contemporary ruminants. We explored the relationships between particle size in rumen, tooth wear (scanned molar occlusal topography), age and body mass of female Svalbard reindeer living in an arctic desert at 78 degrees latitude on Svalbard. We predicted that (H1) if the rumen particle size is determined mainly by constraints due to tooth wear, and if tooth wear is mainly a function of age, average particle size in rumen should increase with age. From allometric relations it is known that larger individuals can survive on a lower-quality diet, we therefore predicted (H2) larger particle sizes with increases in (ln) body mass, irrespective of age and wear. Lastly, if there is a trade-off between growth and tooth wear in dry ecosystems (a selection pressure for hypsodonty), we predicted (H3) that teeth of heavier animals should be more worn than those of lighter animals of the same age. The proportion of small particles (<1.0 mm) decreased rapidly with increasing age (consistent with H1). Heavier females within an age class had more worn teeth (consistent with H3) than lighter ones. A close-to-isometric relationship between particle size and body mass suggested that heavier animals partly compensated for reduced tooth efficiency by chewing more. We provide the first evidence of a trade-off between fast early growth and wear (a somatic cost) of a senescence-related trait--the structure and height of the molar--in a wild ruminant inhabiting an arctic desert where selection pressure for increased tooth height is expected. This suggests that foraging conditions are more extreme than the environment in which the species originally evolved.

Health and production aspects of feeding sweetpotato to cattle.

If certain guidelines are followed when feeding sweetpotatoes to livestock it is possible to minimize health hazards. Careful herd management and the recognition of specific biomarkers such as excessive dental deterioration could aid in the early identification of feed problems. Where these tubers are produced locally in abundance there can be an economic and environmental incentive to divert waste sweetpotato by-products toward livestock feed. The feeding of culled sweetpotatoes and processed sweetpotato waste by-products can have three major benefits. First, expensive disposal costs are reduced. Second, negative environmental impacts from landfill dumping and crop spreading are limited. Third, the culled sweetpotatoes and SPCW offer an inexpensive and nutritious alternative feed ration for livestock that may increase economic returns.

In vitro effects of an acidic by-product feed on bovine teeth.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate in vitro erosive effects of sweet potato cannery waste (SPCW) on bovine incisor enamel. SAMPLE POPULATION: 20 bovine mandibles. PROCEDURE: Mandibles were collected and incisors were classified into 3 categories: lacking observable wear, advanced normal wear, or abnormal wear associated with feeding SPCW. Intact mandibles were radiographed. Contralateral normal teeth from the same jaw were used to compare Ca2+ loss (etching) with SPCW, lactic acid (pH 3.2), or SPCW neutralized with NaOH to pH 5.0 or 5.5. Scanning electron microscopy was performed to compare etched and unetched specimens. Two abnormally worn teeth were evaluated histologically. Knoop hardness testing was conducted on unexposed areas of surface enamel and enamel exposed to SPCW. RESULTS: Radiography revealed large periapical abscesses in the mandibles exposed to SPCW. Nearly identical amounts of Ca2+ were removed by SPCW and lactic acid solution at the same pH. Scanning electron microscopy did not indicate consistent differences between etch patterns resulting from exposure to SPCW or lactic acid. Mean rate of calcium removal was 56% higher in deciduous than permanent teeth. Knoop hardness data suggested that softening occurred in enamel exposed to SPCW. Neutralizing SPCW to pH 5.5 eliminated calcium removal. Histologic examination of sections indicated that SPCW degraded and removed some dentin matrix proteins. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to SPCW results in enamel erosion in vitro; low pH is the most likely cause of erosion. Neutralizing SPCW to pH 5.5 eliminated erosive effects. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Confirmation of SPCW's erosive effects on enamel in vitro supported the field diagnosis.

Hypothyroidism and anemia related to fluoride in dairy cattle.

Blood and urine were collected from 72 cows in six dairy herds with varying severity of dental and bone fluorotic lesions. Urinary fluoride averaged 5.13 ppm and ranged from 1.04 to 15.7 ppm fluoride. Thyroxine and triiodothyronine in serum decreased with increasing urinary fluoride, eosinophils increased, and cholesterol tended to decrease. Cattle afflicted with fluorosis developed hypothyroidism, anemia, and eosinophilia of leukocytes. Bone ash averaged 2400 ppm fluoride in 22 specimens from eight herds (range 850 to 6935 ppm fluoride). Mineral supplements were the main sources of excess fluoride. Fluoride lesions were on some cows of all herds suggesting that fluoride may affect the health and performance of some cows in "normal" herds. Fluoride lesions were on young cattle and calves in fluorosis herds.