Catalysis Meeting

EVOLUTION OF HUMAN TEETH AND JAWS: IMPLICATIONS FOR DENTISTRY AND ORTHODONTICS

PI(s): Peter Ungar (University of Arkansas)
John Sorrentino (John A. Sorrentino, DMD, FAGD)
Jerome Rose (University of Arkansas Main Campus (Fayetteville,AR))
Start Date: 25-Oct-2011
End Date: 25-Nov-2012
Keywords: human evolution, disease, education, evolutionary theory

Cavities, gum disease, dental defects, crooked and crowded teeth, tooth loss -- these problems are a scourge on our society. But they are rare in traditional foraging peoples, and almost unknown in our distant ancestors. The proposed NESCent Catalysis meeting will explore the idea that many of our dental and orthodontic problems relate to a mismatch between the chemical and physical properties of the foods we eat today, and those to which our jaws and teeth evolved. It will bring together researchers in the fields of evolutionary biology, paleopathology, biomechanics, and food science, both with one another and with clinicians, to explore the implications of the evolution of human teeth and jaws for dentistry and orthodontics. The goals of this meeting are to 1) summarize the current state of the science, 2) identify areas for future research, 3) foster new collaborations, and 4) begin a dialog that will ultimately chart a way forward for further applications of evolutionary theory to clinical practice, and development of Evolutionary Dentistry as a discipline.

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