A radiographic study of dental development in the hypopituitary dwarf mouse.

Growth in body length, skeletal lengths, incisor lengths and molar root lengths were retarded in dwarf mice. The root lengths of third molars were more severely affected than those of other molars. The crown lengths at the enamel-cementum junction of upper and lower molars of most dwarf mice were significantly shorter than normal. The root canals of dwarf mice were smaller, apical closure was delayed and there was a delay in their eruption to the occlusal level. Although the size of the dentition was markedly affected in the dwarf mice, the functional relationship appeared to be unchanged.