AGE ASSESSMENT IN INFANT CRAB-EATING MONKEYS (MACACA-FASCICULARIS) BASED ON TOOTH DEVELOPMENT

Tooth development was studied in 13 Macaca fascicularis monkeys with k nown dates of birth. Regular intra-oral examination was carried out an d standardized lateral radiographs were collected from 27 until 150 we eks of age under general anaesthesia. Three stages of tooth developmen t were determined radiographically: onset of crypt formation, onset of mineralization, and crown completion. A fourth stage, the emergence, was determined clinically. Developmental stages were recorded for six mandibular and five maxillary teeth. The ages of emergence of the perm anent teeth and the developmental stages of the third molars showed th e largest variation. A significant sex difference with earlier maturat ion in males was found for the start of crypt formation of the maxilla ry permanent canines and the maxillary second premolars, and for the s tart of mineralization of the maxillary permanent canines. The data pr ovide a tool by which chronological age can be assessed of Macaca fasc icularis monkeys between 30 and 80 weeks of age. Owing to an interphas e of about one year without significant developmental features in the dentition, age assessment based on tooth development cannot be perform ed from about 80 to 130 weeks of age. Age assessments are possible for the period between 130 and 150 weeks of age. However, in this period the reliability of the data is lower due to larger time intervals and standard deviations.