Purpose-The study aims to assess the contributory and predisposing effects of prolonged drought and climate phenomenon on occurrence of dental abnormalities among three age group categories of Cephalophus niger. Methods- This inquiry utilized a population cohort study comprising of 18 females and males for a period of three years in a continuum. Each group consisted of (eight) 0-10 months old kids (4 males and females), (fourteen) matured; one to three year olds (7 males and females) and (fourteen) old adults of above 3½ years in a similar composition with prolonged drought as predictor variable, a primary outcome variable is frequency/season of occurrence. Other study variables were deficient diet and age. One way Anova statistics was computed with P˂.05 significance. Results- Most severe defects occurred in matured and old females (P˂.05) during prolonged drought. Morphologic disruptions occurred more frequently on mandible relative to maxillary dentitions (P˂.05). Premolars and molar teeth abnormities occurred more frequently. In a summation of about 93% apical infections; bone resorptions occurred in 30% of females and 6% of males with profile aberrations in both time points and accounted for 33% of all arcade case/non-case abnormity observed in both genders, tooth stains; 40% of females, 8% of males (16%). Attritions- 15% apiece in both sexes (23%), missing teeth; 28% , 3% in females and males (12%) respectively. Conclusions- This study concludes that deficient dietary content impacted on frequency of dental abnormalities. The findings may serve as a substrate in bioremediation process of dental pathologies and may find utility in determination of likely age and season of onset of a dental pathology while postulating the predisposal contributions of sustained elevated temperatures. Further investigation on suitability of diastema widening and oral irrigations for severe cases may be of value.

Keywords: cephalophus niger climate change, dental abnormalities, extreme weather, wild ruminants,