How were pycnodont teeth adapted for crushing food?

Pycnodontiformes were adapted for crushing food through the modification of their upper and lower dentitions into an open, pavement-like structure. These fishes possessed an abundance of bulblike, rounded teeth characterized by thick enamel surfaces.123

This specialized dental arrangement allowed them to effectively crush their prey, which typically consisted of shelled invertebrates found in coral reef environments. While these posterior teeth functioned as a crushing pavement, the anterior teeth of the premaxilla and dentary were often incisiform, serving the purpose of grasping prey.312