Tooth Replacement in the Mammal-Like Reptiles

The origin and early radiation of the therapsid mammal-like reptiles: a palaeobiological hypothesis.

The replacement of the basal synapsid pelycosaurs by the more 'mammal-like' therapsids in the Permian was an important event in the history of tetrapods because it initiated the eventual transition to the mammals. It is also an example of taxon replacement in the fossil record that is unusually amenable to explanation, based on a combination of analysis of the biological significance of the inf...

The development of complex tooth shape in reptiles

Reptiles have a diverse array of tooth shapes, from simple unicuspid to complex multicuspid teeth, reflecting functional adaptation to a variety of diets and eating styles. In addition to cusps, often complex longitudinal labial and lingual enamel crests are widespread and contribute to the final shape of reptile teeth. The simplest shaped unicuspid teeth have been found in piscivorous or carni...

Mammal-like occlusion in conodonts

—Conodont element function and feeding mechanisms are of considerable paleobiological importance, yet many details remain poorly understood and speculative. Analysis based on morphology, physical juxtaposition, and patterns of surface damage and microwear on pairs of Pa elements from individuals of Idiognathodus indicates that these elements crushed food by rotational closure, which brought the...

Predictable tooth replacement in the aesthetic zone.

Immediate total tooth replacement.

Successful implant placement at the time of extraction has been documented. Implant placement at the time of extraction was initially performed as a two-stage procedure often with barrier membranes and sophisticated second-stage surgical uncoverings. The authors describe the next generation of this technique, including atraumatic tooth removal with simultaneous root form, implant placement, and...