| dc.description.abstract | Periodontitis and odontogenic abscesses are common dental ailments that affect the ability to obtain sufficient nutrition. Thus, they are important indicators of oral health and quality of life. In this study, oral health status was evaluated in Pan paniscus (bonobo) as they are genetically and cognitively similar to humans and deserve protection. In CT images of 140 bonobo skulls housed in the Royal Museum for Central Africa, Belgium, odontogenic abscesses, and periodontitis were investigated. For this study diagnostic criteria for periodontitis were loss of alveolar bone which includes loss of interdental bone and exposure of root furcation in multi-rooted teeth, Bone defect scores are calculated by the average of distance from Cemento Enamel Junction to deepest alveolar bone depth on mesiobuccal and distobuccal aspects of all premolars and permanent 1st and 2nd molars. Male (M) and female (F) specimens, as well as specimens of unknown sex (U), were categorized as juvenile/subadult (J), young adult (Y), and adult (A) depending on the dentition stage and root canal apices closure. Results indicated that 7 specimens (5%) had signs of odontogenic abscesses (3 M, 2F, 2 U; 6 A, and 1Y). In addition, there was a high prevalence of signs of periodontitis. The prevalence of periodontitis was 92.3% (M 90%, F 91%, U 95%), and 45.5% (M 40%, F 44.4%, U 50%) in adults and young adults, respectively. In juveniles 46.2% M, 50.0 % F and 51.3% U specimens showed signs of incipient periodontitis. Mean Bone defect score in adults was significantly greater than other age groups but was similar in different sex groups. Signs of other oral pathology or anomaly were rare. These findings suggest that bonobos generally had good dentition and oral health, while periodontitis was common and increased with age. The knowledge of oral health in bonobos, which along with chimpanzees are the closest extant relatives of humans, can thus provide valuable insights into the epidemiology of the disease from an evolutionary perspective. | en |
