Figure 2.

The pioneer animal experiments of Keyes and Fitzgerald. The graphically depicted experiments collectively provide unequivocal evidence in support of the bacterial and diet etiology of dental caries. This set of animal model experiments is a classic example that insights gained from animal experimentation can help understand mechanisms and etiology of a human disease. All subsequent observations in human dental caries validated the findings of Keyes and Fitzgerald (Keyes 1959, Fitzgerald and Keyes 1960, Tanzer 1995).