Intraoral Radiographic Study of the Pulp Cavity of the Shortfin Mako Shark (Isurus Oxyrinchus)

Abstract

The shortfin mako shark ( Isurus oxyrinchus) is a large pelagic predator that inhabits coastal and ocean waters. It has several teeth arranged in rows that run from the rostral to the lingual face. These teeth are in several stages of maturation, where the teeth closest to the rostral face are more mature and functional and the teeth closest to the lingual face are still in development. The tooth supply of the shark is unlimited throughout its life. The mechanism of tooth replacement follows that, when the front teeth are discarded physiologically, the posterior teeth replace it. This study us used a head and dental arch of I. oxyrinchus. Intraoral radiographs were obtained with the aim to show details of the pulp cavity. The study concluded that the pulp diameter varies according to the stage of dental maturation.