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Precision of In Vivo Quantitative Tooth Wear Measurement Using Intra-Oral Scans
Published on: July 12, 2022
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Does tooth wear influence ageing? A comparative study across large herbivores
Jean-Michel Gaillard1, Vérane Berger1, Morgane Tidière1
1Université de Lyon, F-69000, Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France.
Experimental Gerontology
|September 15, 2015
Summary
Tooth wear intensity is linked to aging rates in large herbivores. Higher tooth wear correlates with faster senescence, suggesting a potential connection between dental health and lifespan in these animals.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Tooth wear is a significant factor affecting herbivore health and lifespan.
- Actuarial senescence, the rate of aging, varies across species and can be influenced by environmental factors.
- Understanding the relationship between tooth wear and senescence can provide insights into life history strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of tooth wear intensity on actuarial senescence in large herbivores.
- To determine if tooth wear is a predictor of aging rates across different species.
- To explore potential sex-specific differences in senescence related to tooth wear.
Main Methods:
- Compiled literature data on tooth wear (M1 crown height regression slope), longevity, and two senescence metrics (rate between 6-12 years, Gompertz rate) in captive large herbivores.
- Analyzed correlations between tooth wear, longevity, and senescence metrics, controlling for hypsodonty.
- Examined sex-specific differences in senescence in relation to tooth wear levels.
Main Results:
- Tooth wear was positively correlated with tooth height and showed significant variation between species.
- Longevity was largely independent of tooth wear intensity.
- A positive relationship was found between tooth wear and both measures of actuarial senescence, particularly in males at lower wear levels.
Conclusions:
- Tooth wear intensity appears positively associated with actuarial senescence in large herbivores.
- While longevity is not strongly linked to tooth wear, aging rates show a correlation.
- Further within-individual longitudinal studies are needed to confirm a mechanistic link between tooth wear and senescence.
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