ERUPTION PATTERN OF PERMANENT TEETH IN MINIATURE SWINE

Since miniature swine are being used extensively as a research animal and since the literature concerning tooth eruption of domestic swine is not very precise, it seemed advisable to observe and record tooth eruption in the miniature swine being used and to make comparisons between this strain and domestic swine. A total of 33 animals from six litters of Pitman-Moore swine were observed weekly until eruption of their permanent teeth was complete, a period from 16 to 136 wk of age. In addition to noting the range of eruption time for each tooth, a median was given-the time when the tooth was present in half of the sample. Comparison of median eruption times indicated earlier eruption for some teeth in males. A mean sequence of eruption for each arch was established for the group based on rank correlations and coefficients of concordance for each arch. The sequence of eruption was different in the two arches, with less variation in the mandibular pattern of eruption, but there was no significant difference in sequence due to sex. The eruption time and sequence noted for Pitman-Moore swine differed somewhat from that reported for domestic swine. Eruption appeared to be later in miniature swine, with the greatest difference noted for the maxillary arch. This may be attributed to limited observations of maxillary teeth in domestic swine, and the assumption that the time and sequence of eruption was the same as in the mandibular arch. No precise sequence of eruption in domestic swine was available for comparison, but general comparisons were made with the pattern of deciduous eruption in swine, and with the eruption patterns of human teeth. © 1969.