Oral and Dental Examination Findings in Beech Martens (Martes foina)

Detailed clinical and radiographical descriptions of oral/dental pathology in the beech marten (Martes foina) are lacking. In the present study, skulls of M. foina from a museum collection (n = 109) were examined macroscopically according to predefined criteria and full-mouth dental radiographs were obtained. Occlusion was diagnosed as 'scissor bite' in 22.5% of evaluated skulls, 77% of evaluated skulls showed 'level bite' of incisors and 9.2% of evaluated skulls had 'open bites'. In three skulls, class III malocclusion was diagnosed. Linguoversion of the mandibular second incisor teeth was noted in all skulls. Of the maximum possible number of teeth (i.e. full set of teeth in each skull), 90.4% were available for examination, 6.4% were missing artifactually, 2.0% were absent presumably congenitally and in 1.2 % the absence was presumably acquired. In three skulls supernumerary teeth were noted, all being incisor teeth. In four skulls, unerupted maxillary canine teeth were noted and in one skull odontodysplasia of the maxillary canine teeth was diagnosed. All other teeth were considered normal in morphology. The number of roots per tooth varied in the mandibular second premolar, maxillary first molar and mandibular second molar teeth. The most common dental pathology was attrition/abrasion with 72 skulls (66%) and 857 teeth (24.1% of evaluated teeth) affected, followed by periodontal disease affecting 52 (47.7%) of skulls and 773 teeth (18.9% of evaluated teeth). Dental fractures were present in 49 (45%) skulls and 148 teeth (3.8% of evaluated teeth). Radiographically evident periapical lesions were detected in 11 (10.1%) skulls and 18 teeth (0.5% of evaluated teeth). Other rare abnormal findings included tooth resorption, enamel hypoplasia/hypocalcification, fenestrations at palatal root of maxillary first molar tooth and different bony changes.