Journal of Dental Research, Vol 69, 447-450, Copyright © 1990 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Measurement of dietary and dentifrice effects upon calculus accumulation rates in the domestic ferret
D. S. Harper, P. H. Mann and S. Regnier
Fairleigh Dickinson University, Oral Health Research Center, Hackensack, New Jersey 07601.
Most animal models for the study of calculus accumulation and control
currently use rodents or dogs. In an effort to overcome limitations
inherent in the use of these species, we investigated calculus formation in
domestic ferrets, a species used by King et al. in the 1940's and 1950's.
Ferrets are much smaller than dogs, and, unlike rodents, can be scored
while alive. In this study, we examined the kinetics of calculus formation
in female ferrets fed with moist canned cat food--either plain or
supplemented with sucrose--and two combinations of mineral salts. An
additional group given supplemented cat food was treated twice daily with
regular Crest toothpaste. Animals were sedated with a 1:1 mixture of
ketamine and xylazine solutions and given a mechanical prophylaxis prior to
the trial period, then scored for area and extent of calculus accumulation
at two, four, six, and eight weeks thereafter. The data showed that the
mineral-supplemented groups accumulated calculus at a significantly faster
rate than the unsupplemented or dentifrice-treated groups, but the
differences were no longer significant at eight weeks. This demonstrated
that the ferret is a suitable model for the study of calculus, that dietary
mineral content influenced calculogenesis, and that the application of
regular dentifrice initially slowed, but did not prevent, calculus
accumulation.
