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Biomedical subjects

D G Gantt

Publications and source records attributed to D G Gantt.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1979

Comparative enamel histology of primate teeth.

The use of nonhuman primates as experimental models has markedly increased during the past decade. However, very little is known about primate dental tissues, especially enamel. Comparative studies of the enamel from 25 primate species reveal a wide variation in (1) the thickness of enamel, (2) microstructure and ultrastructure, and (3) the species' capacity to respond to systemic stress. These data provide a baseline of information presently not available to the dental researcher.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Taxonomic implications of primate dental tissues.

Histological studies of dental tissues will provide new and important insights into mammalian evolution. From studies of dental histology, hominoid evolution has become much clearer. Data as to the thickness of enamel and enamel prism patterns clearly provide quantitative support concerning theories of hominoid/hominid differentiation. The importance of comparative dental histology has only recently been realized and when extended to other mammalian orders, including both living and fossil forms, a more complete and clearer understanding of mammalian evolution will emerge. Caution must be emphasized, however, for these features are extremely complex structures and without a thorough knowledge of comparative dental histology and the applications of the SEM results may be misleading or incorrect.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Hominoid enamel prism patterns.

Analysis of enamel prism patterns in a selected series of extant hominoids reveals that pongids have a pattern distinctively different from that of Homo sapiens. The pattern for a Miocene hominoid, Ramapithecus, is very similar to that seen in Homo sapiens. The finding allows a new approach to the evaluation of isolated teeth.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Functional implications of primate enamel thickness.

Recent evolutionary interpretations of Hominoidea have postulated functional relationships between tooth form, diet and masticatory biomechanics. A major consideration is the durability of the tooth under certain dietary conditions. Teeth with low cusps and thicker enamel are able to withstand heavy mastication of abrasive food bolus for a longer period. When comparisons are made between species of higher primates the variables of tooth size, cusp morphology, and enamel thickness appear to be related but until now no systematic analysis has been made to determine the functional relevance of several dental dimensions. This study provides data gained from comparisons of dentition of nine species of primates. Histological sections were made of the post canine teeth and 21 dimensions were compared. The relevant dimensions identified serve to withstand dental wear. The distribution of thicker enamel corresponded to the observed wear planes. Humans had thicker enamel than pongids while the macaque had the thinnest. These preliminary results tend to support theories which explain low, thick, enameled cusps in hominids.

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