title: Pathological investigation of caries and occlusal pulpar exposure in donkey cheek teeth using computerised axial tomography with histological and ultrastructural examinations.
abstract: Post-mortem examination of 16 donkey cheek teeth (CT) with caries (both peripheral and infundibular) and pulpar exposure were performed using computerised axial tomography (CAT), histology and scanning electron microscopy. CAT imaging was found to be useful to assess the presence and extent of caries and pulp exposure in individual donkey CT. Histology identified the loss of occlusal secondary dentine, and showed pulp necrosis in teeth with pulpar exposure. Viable pulp was present more apically in one exposed pulp horn, with its occlusal aspect sealed off from the exposed aspect of the pulp horn by a false pulp stone. Scanning electron microscopy showed the amelo-cemental junction to be a possible route of bacterial infection in infundibular cemental caries. The basic pathogenesis of dental caries in donkeys appears very similar to its description in other species.
authors.affiliation: Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Department of Clinical Science, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK. Nicole.dutoit@ed.ac.uk
authors.forename: Nicole du
authors.initials: Nd
authors.lastname: Toit
authors.forename: Faith A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Burden
authors.forename: Sue A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kempson
authors.forename: Padraic M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Dixon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003789:Dental Pulp Exposure / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003813:Dentistry / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D018397:Equidae; D007180:Incisor / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000662:veterinary; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D014070:Tooth / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure