Dental Anthropology

Dental Anthropology “study of the teeth in a perspective beyond clinical sciences. Perspective includes the study of dental growth, theories on dental origin, primate dentition and population variation”. Study of dental pathologies, in particular caries, periapical osteitis, pattern of tooth loss and periodontal diseases; provides yet another venue of research. The enamel which covers tooth crown is the hardest part of the body consisting primarily of calcium hydroxyapatite. Because of this inorganic component is extremely durable, teeth shows excellent preservation in most taphonomic contexts. Extracted teeth from the living provide another venue for study but they are less useful than dental casts and human skeleton for a systemic analysis of dental variations. A brief overview is presented in this assemblage to know how it evolved over time and led to the present day.