Analysis of individual, intraspecific and interspecific variability in quantitative parameters of caprine tooth enamel structure

Qualifying the lapped enamel surface: a profilometric, electron microscopic and microhardness study using human, bovine and ovine enamel

OBJECTIVE

When enamel specimens are prepared for erosion and abrasion studies, the assumption is often made that specimens prepared in the same way will have the same baseline surface characteristics. This study aimed to test the null hypothesis that there are no significant differences in baseline surface characteristics of human, ovine and bovine enamel specimens prepared using the same method.

DESIGN

Twenty enamel slabs were prepared from bovine, human and ovine incisor crowns and polished with 3μm aluminium oxide paste. Roughness average (Ra), bearing parameters (MR1, MR2, Rpk, Rk, Rvk), surface microhardness and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to compare the different tissues. One way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to quantitatively compare surface characteristics between tissue types.

RESULTS

Human, bovine and ovine enamel roughness and microhardness were significantly different to one another at baseline (P<0.001); ovine enamel was the roughest and softest, and bovine enamel was the smoothest and hardest. SEM allowed a visual comparison to be made between tissue types, confirming the quantitative data.

CONCLUSIONS

Enamel from human, bovine and ovine specimens showed significantly different surface characteristics after lapping and polishing. The null hypothesis is rejected, recognising that the same preparation techniques will not necessarily result in consistent baseline roughness or surface characteristics between tissue types. Surface studies should lap and polish samples with a standardised approach, whilst ensuring that baseline data are recorded for comparison.

Lines of evidence-incremental markings in molar enamel of Soay sheep as revealed by a fluorochrome labeling and backscattered electron imaging study

We studied the structural characteristics and periodicities of regular incremental markings in sheep enamel using fluorochrome injections for vital labeling of forming enamel and backscattered electron imaging in the scanning electron microscope. Microscopic analysis of mandibular first molars revealed the presence of incremental markings with a daily periodicity (laminations) that indicated successive positions of the forming front of interprismatic enamel. In addition to the laminations, incremental markings with a sub-daily periodicity were discernible both in interprismatic enamel and in enamel prisms. Five sub-daily increments were present between two consecutive laminations. Backscattered electron imaging revealed that each sub-daily growth increment consisted of a broader and more highly mineralized band and a narrower and less mineralized band (line). The sub-daily markings in the prisms of sheep enamel morphologically resembled the (daily) prisms cross striations seen in primate enamel. Incremental markings with a supra-daily periodicity were not observed in sheep enamel. Based on the periodicity of the incremental markings, maximum mean daily apposition rates of 17.0 µm in buccal enamel and of 13.4 µm in lingual enamel were recorded. Enamel extension rates were also high, with maximum means of 180 µm/day and 217 µm/day in upper crown areas of buccal and lingual enamel, respectively. Values in more cervical crown portions were markedly lower. Our results are in accordance with previous findings in other ungulate species. Using the incremental markings present in primate enamel as a reference could result in a misinterpretation of the incremental markings in ungulate enamel. Thus, the sub-daily growth increments in the prisms of ungulate enamel might be mistaken as prism cross striations with a daily periodicity, and the laminations misidentified as striae of Retzius with a supra-daily periodicity. This would lead to a considerable overestimation of crown formation times in ungulate teeth.

Intercusp differences in enamel prism patterns in early and late stages of human tooth development

Enamel prism-packing patterns reflect the past history of ameloblasts, providing information about growth patterns in tooth development. Here, the area and density of enamel prisms on the cuspal surface of molar teeth were measured to examine if the onset and rate of enamel apposition differ according to stage of development and/or cusp type. Scanning electron-microscopic images were taken from the mesiobuccal and distal cusp tips of 30 mandibular first permanent molars at different stages of development recovered from archaeological sites in Israel dating to the past 10000 years. Selected enamel microstructural characters were measured for each cusp. The mean area of prisms on the mesiobuccal (MB) cusp was significantly larger than that of the distal (D) cusp at all stages of development and the differences in prism area between cusps were significant for each stage of development. Prism density was significantly smaller on the MB cusp than the D cusp at all stages of development but no significant differences were found between early and later stages in each cusp. This was interpreted as indicating that enamel formation in the MB cusp was almost complete, even in the earliest tooth germs studied, whereas in the D cusp it was less advanced. The differences between MB and D cusps are proposed to result from asynchrony of enamel formation between the different cusps of molar teeth in recent populations. The method provides a non-destructive approach to the study of growth patterns in teeth and provides baseline data for comparison with fossil teeth.

A light microscopic and ultrastructural examination of calcified dental tissues of horses: 2. Ultrastructural enamel findings

Ultrastructural examinations of defined 3 equine enamel types termed equine (Eq.) Types 1, 2 and 3 enamel, according to the transverse appearance of their enamel prisms and the amount and appearance of their interprismatic enamel. Eq. Type 1 enamel contained alternating rows of oval shaped prisms and thick interprismatic enamel plates, and was found adjacent to the amelodentinal junction. Eq. Type 2 enamel consisted of circular, 'keyhole' to 'horseshoe' shaped prisms with little or no interprismatic enamel and was located adjacent to the amelocemental junction. Eq. Type 3 enamel was composed of rounded prisms surrounded by large amounts of interprismatic enamel and was inconsistently present in a thin layer at the amelodentinal and amelocemental junctions. Prism decussation was seen in the thickest peripheral enamel of the upper cheek teeth but was present throughout incisor enamel therefore making incisors highly resistant to cracking. Scanning electron microscopic examination showed enamel crystals to be cylindrical shaped on transverse section; however, on transmission electron microscopic examination these crystals had shapes, ranging from near oval to rectangular and formed small subunits, with crystals diverging from each other at various angles.

Dental microwear and microstructure in early oligocene primates from the Fayum, Egypt: implications for diet

Textbook descriptions usually portray the Fayum anthropoideans as frugivores, with Parapithecus grangeri including a folivorous component in its diet and Apidium a component of hard-object feeding. Recent work with modern mammals has shown that analyses of both dental microwear and dental microstructure may yield insights into diet and tooth use. The purpose of this study was to combine these two techniques to gain a better perspective on the paleobiology of the Fayum higher primates. Dental microwear analyses involved the use of high resolution epoxy casts of Aegyptopithecus, Parapithecus, and Apidium housed in the Duke University Primate Center. Scanning electron micrographs were taken at x500, and all microwear features in each micrograph were digitized. For microstructure analyses, molar teeth were sectioned in a variety of planes, lightly etched, and photographed in the SEM. Results of the dental microwear analyses indicate that the three Fayum anthropoideans all clustered with modern primate frugivores but that there were also significant differences between Aegyptopithecus and the other two Fayum genera. By contrast, dental microstructure analyses showed important differences between Apidium and the other two genera. The reason for these differences probably lies in a combination of body size and dietary differences, with Aegyptopithecus occasionally feeding on hard objects and Apidium maximizing wear resistance through a unique emphasis of radial (rather than decussating) enamel.

Variation in quantitative measures of enamel prisms from different species as assessed using confocal microscopy

This study presents a statistical analysis of variability in six measures of enamel prism and ameloblast size and spacing gathered using confocal microscopy, and applies the results to a consideration of appropriate sampling strategies for taxonomic analyses. Variability within individuals was examined within depth series. Individual variability was also assessed within a nested analysis of variation for prism measurements between micrographs, specimens and species. While sample depth was not often significantly associated with differences in prism and ameloblast measures, there was significant variation between micrographs taken from the same region of a tooth. The highest levels of variation were found between species, while variation between conspecific individuals was relatively small. These results demonstrate that data gathered from several micrographs are likely to be representative of a specimen, but that several micrographs of a single specimen will rarely illustrate the range of variation contained within a species. It is essential for systematic and taxonomic analyses that several micrographs be used to characterize an individual. It is also recommended that samples from several individuals be used to characterize species. While data from isolated specimens is often of great interest, taxonomic or systematic conclusions based on isolated individuals should be approached cautiously.

The effects of sectioning angle on measurements of enamel prism size and spacing

Comparative studies of prism size and spacing employ variables that are based on idealized, two-dimensional models. Results of modelling experiments illustrate that three-dimensional prism orientation can have a significant impact on two-dimensional measurements. In comparing prism size and spacing variables, it is essential to maintain control over the angle at which prisms are sectioned in order to compare real differences between taxa rather than preparation artefact. The further sectioning angles are from orthogonal, the greater the possibility for misrepresenting true prism size and spacing. While the survey of prism compression/extension (k) values reported here, as well as those described in previous studies, indicate that prism sectioning angles are only rarely extreme enough to render other values of prism and ameloblast size and spacing useless, the potential influence of sectioning obliquity on variation cannot be dismissed.

Enamel microstructure in Lemuridae (Mammalia, Primates): assessment of variability

This study describes the molar enamel microstructure of seven lemurid primates: Hapalemur griseus, Varecia variegata, Lemur catta, Lemur macaco, Lemur fulvus rufus, Lemur fulvus fulvus, and Lemur fulvus albifrons. Contrary to earlier accounts, which reported little or no prism decussation in lemurid enamel, both Lemur and Varecia molars contain a prominent inner layer of decussating prisms (Hunter-Schreger bands), in addition to an outer radial prism layer, and a thin, nonprismatic enamel surface layer. In contrast, Hapalemur enamel consists entirely of radial and, near the surface, nonprismatic enamel. In addition, for all species, prism packing patterns differ according to depth from the tooth surface, and for all species but Varecia (which also has the thinnest enamel of any lemurid), average prism area increases from the enamel-dentine junction to the surface; this may be a developmental solution to the problem of accommodating a larger outer surface area with enamel deposited from a fixed number of cells. Finally, contradicting some previous reports, Pattern 1 prisms predominate only in the most superficial prismatic enamel. In the deeper enamel, prism cross-sections include both closed (Pattern 1) and arc-shaped (Pattern 2 or, most commonly, Pattern 3). This sequence of depth-related pattern change is repeated in all taxa. It should also be emphasized that all taxa can exhibit all three prism patterns in their mature enamel. The high degree of quantitative and qualitative variation in prism size, shape, and packing suggests that these features should be used cautiously in phylogenetic studies. Hapalemur is distinguished from the other lemurids by unique, medially constricted or rectangular prism cross-sections at an intermediate depth and the absence of prism decussation, but, without further assessment of character polarity, these differences do not clarify lemurid phylogenetic relations. Some characters of enamel microstructure may represent synapomorphies of Lemuridae, or of clades within Lemuridae, but homoplasty is likely to be common. Homoplasy of enamel characters may reflect functional constraints.

A scanning electron-microscopic study of in vitro abrasion of mammalian tooth enamel under compressive loads

Microscopic tooth-wear (microwear) patterns can be an important tool for assessing modes and rates of abrasive tooth wear, but their analysis and interpretation is complicated by the fact that microwear is influenced by many factors. Three of these factors were here tested under conditions of compressive loading: (1) species differences in enamel structure, (2) abrasive particle size and (3) magnitude of force. Teeth of four species (Homo sapiens, Lemur fulvus, Ovis aries and Crocodylus rhombifer) were abraded in vitro using three sizes of abrasive silicon-carbide grit (average diameters 73, 23 and 14 microns), at two loads (50 and 100 kg). Microwear features were assessed by scanning electron microscopy of lightly etched enamel surfaces and epoxy replicas. Microwear pits (length:width < 4:1) were the predominant feature type. Factorial analysis of variance of rank-transformed, feature-area measurements demonstrated that, under conditions of compressive loading, the size of abrasive particles was the primary determinant of microwear size. These results contrast with previous experimental tests of abrasion by predominantly shearing loads, where feature size was influenced by interaction among experimental factors, including the microscopic orientation of enamel crystallites. Although magnitude of compressive force was not a factor in microwear size variation, it may be a critical factor in explaining the presence or absence of microwear on tooth surfaces. The relatively small compressive bite force generated during typical chewing may not consistently produce abrasive pitting. These experiments demonstrate that, as the same abrasive regime can produce both large and small pits, the mechanism by which wear features are formed (i.e. compression or adhesion) cannot be determined from the size of features alone. Nevertheless, the dependence of pit size on abrasive particle size demonstrates that metrical variation in wear features can elucidate important attributes of an animal's diet.

Enamel microstructure and molar wear in the greater galago, Otolemur crassicaudatus (Mammalia, 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.

Scanning electron microscopic observations on the development and structure of tooth enamel in Cervidae (Mammalia: Ruminantia)

Enamel formation and structure were investigated in 102 developing or erupted teeth of roe, fallow and red deer. Special attention was given to the topography of the forming enamel surface, the form, arrangement and course of enamel rods, its relation to interprismatic enamel and the occurrence of Hunter-Schreger-bands in the enamel. Discussed are the significance of the enamel pattern for the identification of certain taxa and the adaptive value of Cervidean enamel structures.