From this observed pattern, Wolf deduced that these angled denticles were traces of healed scars. Wolf concluded that that the size, shape, and variability of the denticles that replace the repair denticles are normal and that the scar area gains a new polarity which is at an angle to the original polarity. But to test fully these conclusions, he noted, a new excision of denticles would have to be made and that it would probably take two years until all the repair denticles were replaced. I have not yet personally investigated the form and orientation of replacement denticles in any shark species, but plan to begin doing so at my earliest opportunity. It would be interesting to compare the rate of wound healing in captive versus free-swimming sharks.
Sharks are well known to be highly suceptible to the stresses of capture and containment.
Perhaps most practically, such research will provide us with the information needed to take better care of captive elasmobranchs.