Dental Malocclusion in a Coarse-Haired Wombat ( Vombatus Ursinus )

Abstract

A female coarse-haired wombat held in captivity at the San Diego Zoo from approximately 2 to 16 years-of-age developed a dental malocclusion as a consequence of tooth overgrowth. The incisor, premolar, and molar teeth in this species are classified as aradicular hypsodont and continue to grow throughout life, presumably to counter the abrasive character of the high fiber, high ash, and high silica natural diet. In this case, there was a developmental defect of the maxillary incisor teeth, preventing functional interaction of the maxillary and mandibular incisor teeth. In addition, the captive diet appeared to be insufficiently abrasive, resulting in overgrown and malaligned premolar and molar teeth that were progressively less effective in food mastication and impinged on the tongue and buccal mucosa resulting in soft tissue lesions. The wombat was humanely euthanized, and comparisons of skull appearance and tooth position were made with those features in a wild-caught zoological specimen from the Smithsonian Institution.