TY - JOUR AU - Tatara, Marcin R. AU - Szabelska, Anna AU - Krupski, Witold AU - Tymczyna, Barbara AU - Łuszczewska-Sierakowska, Iwona AU - Bieniaś, Jarosław AU - Ostapiuk, Monika PY - 2014 DA - 2014/02/19 TI - Morphometric, densitometric and mechanical properties of mandibular deciduous teeth in 5-month-old Polish Merino sheep JO - BMC Veterinary Research SP - 45 VL - 10 IS - 1 AB - Caries, enamel hypoplasia, molar incisor hipomineralization, amylogenesis imperfecta, dentine dysplasia, hypophosphatasia and other dental disorders lead to tooth mineralization disturbances and structural abnormalities, decreasing masticatory organ functions. Dental disorders in sheep can lead to premature slaughter before they have attained final stage of their reproductive life and induce economic loss due to high flock replacement costs. Growth rate, health status and meat quality of sheep depends on tooth properties and quality determining in large extent efficiency of the masticatory apparatus and initial food break up. Considering lack of basic anatomical and physiological data on teeth properties in sheep, the aim of the study was to evaluate morphometric, densitometric and mechanical traits of deciduous mandibular incisor, canine and the second premolar obtained at the slaughter age of 5 months of life. SN - 1746-6148 UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-6148-10-45 DO - 10.1186/1746-6148-10-45 ID - Tatara2014 ER -