Towle, I, Irish, JD, Sabbi, KH and Loch, C (2021) Dental caries in wild primates: Interproximal cavities on anterior teeth. American Journal of Primatology, 84 (1). pp. 243-256. ISSN 0275-2565

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Abstract

Dental caries has been reported in a variety of primates, although it is still considered rare in wild populations. In this study, 11 catarrhine primate taxa (n=339 individuals; 7946 teeth) were studied for the presence of caries. A differential diagnosis of lesions in interproximal regions of anterior teeth was undertaken, since they had been previously described as both carious and non-carious in origin. Each permanent tooth was examined macroscopically, with severity and position of lesions recorded. Two specimens were examined further, using micro28 CT scans to assess demineralization. The differential diagnosis confirmed the cariogenic nature of interproximal cavities on anterior teeth (ICATs). Overall results show 3.3% of all teeth (i.e., anterior and posterior teeth combined) are carious (n=262), with prevalence varying among species from 0% to >7% of teeth affected. Those with the highest prevalence of ICATs include Pan troglodytes verus (9.8% of anterior teeth), Gorilla gorilla gorilla (2.6%), Cercopithecus denti (22.4%), Presbytis femoralis (19.5%), and Cercopithecus mitis (18.3%). ICATs make up 87.9% of carious lesions on anterior teeth. These results likely reflect dietary and food processing differences among species, but also between the sexes (e.g., 9.3% of all female P. troglodytes verus teeth were carious vs. 1.8% in males). Processing cariogenic fruits and seeds with the anterior dentition (e.g., wadging) likely contributes to ICAT formation. Further research is needed in living primate populations to ascertain behavioral/dietary influences on caries occurrence. Given the constancy of ICATs in frugivorous primates, their presence in archaeological and paleontological specimens may shed light on diet and food processing behaviors in fossil primates.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is the peer reviewed version of the following article:Towle, I., Irish, J. D., Sabbi, K. H., &Loch, C. (2022). Dental caries in wild primates: Interproximalcavities on anterior teeth.Am J Primatol, 84, e23349.https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.23349TOWLEET AL.|11 of 11 : , which has been published in final form at 10.1002/ajp.23349. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	0608 Zoology, 1601 Anthropology
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology Q Science > QL Zoology
Divisions:	Biological & Environmental Sciences (from Sep 19)
Publisher:	Wiley
Date Deposited:	03 Mar 2022 09:38
Last Modified:	02 Dec 2022 00:50
DOI or ID number:	10.1002/ajp.23349
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/16448

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