Journal of Dental Research, Vol 70, 204-207, Copyright © 1991 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
A new approach to the study of tooth wear
M. F. Teaford and C. A. Tylenda
Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205.
Human tooth wear occurs so slowly that traditionally it has needed months
or years to be measurable. This study showed that microscopic changes in
wear patterns on human teeth could be detected in a matter of days and
could be used as indicators of rates of wear. Thus, daily or weekly changes
in rates of wear can be documented for specific locations on teeth. For
instance, through this new approach, rates of wear of human teeth were
shown to be significantly slower than rates of wear of the teeth of
laboratory monkeys raised on hard or soft diets. Similar techniques may
ultimately be used to monitor subtle changes in tooth use--including those
associated with growth and development and those occurring in response to
various dental clinical procedures.
