Tusks, the extra-oral teeth

Objective: The present review aims to: a) describe the features that support tusks in extra-oral position, and b) represent distinctive features of tusks, which provide insights into tusks adaptation to ambient conditions. Design: A comprehensive review of scientific literature relevant to tusks and comparable dental tissues was conducted. Results: The oral cavity provides a desirable condition which is conducive to tooth health. Therefore, it remains questionable how the bare (exposed) tusks resist the extra-oral conditions. The common features among tusked mammals indicate that the structural (e.g. the peculiar dentinal alignment), cellular (e.g. low or lack of cell populations in the tusk), hormonal (e.g. androgens), and behavioral traits have impact on a tusk's preservation and occurrence. Conclusions: Understanding of bare mineralized structures, such as tusks and antlers, and their compatibility with different environments, can provide important insight into oral biology.