Original scientific paper
Comparative Morphology of Incisor Enamel and Dentin in Humans and Fat Dormice (Glis glis)
Dean Konjević
Tomislav Keros
Hrvoje Brkić
Alen Slavica
Zdravko Janicki
Josip Margaletić
Abstract
The structure of teeth in all living beings is genetically predetermined, although it
can change under external physiological and pathological factors. The author’s hypothesis
was to indicate evolutional shifts resulting from genetic, functional and other differences.
A comparative study about certain characteristics of incisors in humans and
myomorpha, the fat dormouse (Glis glis) being their representative as well, comprised
measurements of enamel and dentin thickness in individual incisor segments, evaluation
of external enamel index, and also assessment of histological structure of enamel
and dentin. The study results involving dormice showed the enamel to be thicker in
lower than in the upper teeth, quite contrary to enamel thickness in humans. In the upper
incisors in dormice the enamel is the thickest in the medial layer of the crown, and
in the cervical portion of the crown in the lower incisors. The thickness of dentin in dormice
is greater in the oral than in the vestibular side. These findings significantly differ
from those reported in reference literature, but they are based on the function of teeth in
dormice. Histological characteristics of hard dental tissues in dormice are similar to
those in humans, with exception of uniserial structure of enamel and appearance of
dentinoenamel junction.
Keywords
enamel; dentin; fat dormouse; humans
Hrčak ID:
28085
URI
Publication date:
16.6.2003.
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