The greatest stresses are at birth and in infancy. Adolescence is also a time of stress both for physiological reasons and as the youngsters join in adult activities. Health Oral health is generally very good. The few cases of dental caries are all occlusal and can be attributed to trauma - fractures of the tooth crown exposing the dentine to decay. There are no cases of inter-proximal or cervical caries.
Abscesses appear to result from traumatic damage to the root apex.
There is often subsequent ante-mortem loss of the tooth.