Continuous monitoring of the movements of erupting and newly erupted teeth of limited growth (ferret mandibular canines) and their responses to hexamethonium.

The rates of these eruption-like movements were high and were consistent with reports that eruption is fastest at the time of emergence into the mouth. Once the tooth had attained its initial functional position, there was a significant reduction in the rates. Following administration of the hypotensive agent, hexamethonium, the emerging tooth showed a significant decrease in eruption rates. However, no change was observed for the tooth which had attained its initial functional position. These findings support the view that there are physiological differences at the eruptive and initial functional stages of eruption. The effects of hexamethonium on the erupting ferret canine differ from those reported for the erupting rabbit incisor. This may reflect differences in the eruptive processes for teeth of limited and continuous growth, although other evidence suggests similarities between these.