The Study About The Dental Anatomic Morphology Of The Giant Panda In Qinling Mountains

In 1964, Zheng Guangmei of Beijing Normal University firstly proposed that the giant panda in Qinling mountains was a new subspecies. In 2005, Fang Sheng Guo'study team in Academy of Life Science of Zhejiang University verified the view through the research on morphology and molecular biology . Their viewpoint was also confirmed by American authoritaive animal taxonomica publication"Journal of Mammalogy". The third national survey of the wild giant panda showed that the total quantity of the wild giant panda in Qinling mountains was 300 including cubs, only accounted for 17% of the giant panda. So the giant panda in Qinling mountains is a extremely rare, more precious and endangered new subspecies. The disease is the greatest threat to the survival of giant pandas in the natural conditions, is one of the important reasons that caused malnutrition and other systemic diseases. The dental diseases include periodontal disease, caries, loose teeth, broken teeth and other dental diseases that wer found in the 90% captived wild giant pandas. However, the lack of the research on the dental anatomic morphology of the giant panda in Qinling mountains, brings the huge difficulty for dental disease's diagnosis and treatment. So it is necessary to study the dental anatomic morphology of the wild giant panda in Qinling mountains.Through the study, the anatomical characteristics and anatomical data are obtained, filled the space of the research field in giant panda tooth morphology. It provided a anatomical basis for preventing dental disease, developing the specific instruments for dental disease.It provided the reference to solve the realistic problem of the scarce isolated teeth, laied the foundation for the future study of the dental pulp cavity. So the study contribute to enhance their physique, to extnt their lives, to increase their population, furthe to save the endangered species .Firstly, different dental morphological features including occlusal surface, interproximal surface, buccal surface and lingual surface were described by observing the 155 non-isolated teeth in jawbone of the mandibular specimens of giant pandas in Qinling. The correlation between dental features and diet was discussed based on the measurement of dental crown width, dental crown thickness, dental crown height, dental cervical width, dental cervical thickness, dental root length and dental length, as well as the study on feeding ecology of giant pandas. Dental unity of morphology and function of the wild giant panda was also described. Correlation between dental anatomy and physiology was further analyzed.The number of isolated teeth is extremely rare, which they were coated with the hard jaw specimens. The giant panda and all specimens belong to the state level to protect. Therefore, we can't damage specimen without the approval of the relevant departments during the study. the method that make specimens loss such as"grinding method"can't suit for the study on anatomic morphology of the giant panda in Qinling mountains.With the rapid development of computer technology and full-featured software, the technology of the three dimensional reconstruction with CT scanning images is used extensively.The first molar of left maxillary of the giant panda in Qinling mountains was reconstructed with its dental CT scanning images. The procedures, methods and key points of its three-dimensional reconstruction were mastered. The advantages of this method were analyzed and summarized.The conclusion of the experiment:1) The dental formula of the giant panda in Qinling mountains is 3.1.4.2/3.1.4.3. The incisor and canine had degradated. The incisors haven't the tendency of double columns and its function had degradated. Except the first premolar, the other premolar anatomic morphology is complex, their cusp are developed .The molar have are sharp cusp,more root.Their occlusal surface have mamelon. The dental features are gradually adapt to different environments produced, are to adapt to the needs of its own function.2) The reconstructed model of the giant panda tooth has high degree geometric similarity to the dental specimen , and has high precision. The method is relatively practical, simple, fast.The method provides a new way for the study on the tooth of the giant panda in Qinling mountains.It can greatly reduce the loss of the teeth and demand of dental entities. It laied the foundation for the future 3D model reconstruction of the whole dentition and dental pulp cavity.