Dental imaging characterization of micropigs

Lee, Hyeyeon; Choi, Mihyun; Chang, Jinhwa; Jung, Joohyun; Kim, Mieun; Lee, Namsoon; Kim, Junyoung; Choi, Mincheol

Korean Journal of Veterinary Research 2010;50(4):311-317.

Hyeyeon Lee, Mihyun Choi, Jinhwa Chang, Joohyun Jung, Mieun Kim, Namsoon Lee, Junyoung Kim, Mincheol Choi

Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University

Abstract

Recently the micropig has been developed as human disease model. The dental and orofacial region of micropig is similar to that of humans, so it has been used for testing implant materials and techniques. The purpose of this study is on dental image at each age using radiography and computed tomography. Total twenty-two male micropigs, two or three animals of each 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months old, were given radiographic examinations. After general anesthesia, extra- and intra-oral radiographic technique and computed tomographic scans were performed to assess the dental characterization of micropigs. The total deciduous dental formula comprised 28 teeth and was depicted as Di 3/3, Dc 1/1, Dp 3/3. The total permanent dental formula comprised 44 teeth and was depicted as I 3/3, C 1/1, P 4/4, M 3/3. Hypodontia of the first premolars was common in the micropig. The permanent teeth erupted from 3 to 24 month after birth. The sequence of eruption of the permanent teeth was M1, P1, I3, C, M2, I1 + P3 + P4, P2, I2, M3. Dental imaging enables visualization of the unerupted teeth and gives more information about the development of the teeth. The growth pattern of the teeth obtained through radiographic and computed tomographic examination provides basic data in the micropig as animal model for dental research.

Key Words: computed tomography, dental, imaging, micropigs, radiography