Anyone out there know anything about teeth? I was always taught that we have two canine teeth, I certainly have them, quite distinct from my other teeth, nestling between my incisors and pre - molars and designed for ripping flesh. Thing is, on the odd occasion that I notice people's teeth, on TV and so on, some people seem not to have them, and I certainly know people who seem not to have them. Are we losing our canine teeth in an evolutionary way, now that we're not having to rip flesh anymore?
@Indonesia-Phil
Firstly, teeth were not designed. They evolved, and continue to evolve. Some people have a third set of teeth, commonly called a wisdom teeth. Some people have four of them, others have two, and some people have no wisdom teeth at all. This is evolution in action. As wisdom teeth gradually disappear from the human genome, it stands to reason that canines may also be similarly affected. Of course, this does not apply to an individual, but to the species. You might find the following article interesting:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352644106_Human_Evolution_of_the_Teeth_Jaws_A_Mouthful_of_History
@moonbus saidI've given myself a hearty slap on the wrist for introducing the word 'design' into my post; sloppy work. Anyway thanks for the response and article.
@Indonesia-Phil
Firstly, teeth were not designed. They evolved, and continue to evolve. Some people have a third set of teeth, commonly called a wisdom teeth. Some people have four of them, others have two, and some people have no wisdom teeth at all. This is evolution in action. As wisdom teeth gradually disappear from the human genome, it stands to reason that canines ...[text shortened]... //www.researchgate.net/publication/352644106_Human_Evolution_of_the_Teeth_Jaws_A_Mouthful_of_History
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@Indonesia-Phil saidPerhaps those people who seem not to have canines actually have dentures?🤔
Anyone out there know anything about teeth? I was always taught that we have two canine teeth, I certainly have them, quite distinct from my other teeth, nestling between my incisors and pre - molars and designed for ripping flesh. Thing is, on the odd occasion that I notice people's teeth, on TV and so on, some people seem not to have them, and I certainly know people ...[text shortened]... e we losing our canine teeth in an evolutionary way, now that we're not having to rip flesh anymore?
@Great-Big-Stees saidHmmm....The theory that manufacturers of false - teeth may be influencing an evolutionary process. Interesting yet controversial.
Perhaps those people who seem not to have canines actually have dentures?🤔
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@Indonesia-Phil saidWorthy of further investigation, to be sure.
Hmmm....The theory that manufacturers of false - teeth may be influencing an evolutionary process. Interesting yet controversial.
@Indonesia-Phil saidMaybe you have exceptionally pointy canine teeth, like Count Dracula or the beloved Count Chocula. The ones you think don't have these teeth I would surmise simply have naturally less pointy canines. There's also a procedure called tooth recontouring. Since news anchors and television personalities are no longer allowed to look human anymore, I imagine a lot of tooth recontouring is going on off-camera.
Anyone out there know anything about teeth? I was always taught that we have two canine teeth, I certainly have them, quite distinct from my other teeth, nestling between my incisors and pre - molars and designed for ripping flesh. Thing is, on the odd occasion that I notice people's teeth, on TV and so on, some people seem not to have them, and I certainly know people ...[text shortened]... e we losing our canine teeth in an evolutionary way, now that we're not having to rip flesh anymore?
Evolution is not going to magically make canine teeth disappear unless having such teeth is somehow less conducive to surviving to reproductive age. The same might apply to wisdom teeth, which come in around age 18 to 20. However, in the case of wisdom teeth, I think modern humans have smaller jaws due to eating more processed and cooked foods during their formative years, which leaves less room for wisdom teeth to grow properly. There may have been mild selection against those with wisdom teeth in the time between the invention of cooking and the advent of modern dentistry, as some would get wisdom teeth that became impacted for lack of room, leading to infection and finally sepsis.
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What I know about teeth is it's very expensive to keep them looking all white and perfect. Like U C on TV. another thing that is very true....if you are a senior citizen DON'T put a bunch of money into repairing your teeth !!! You will pass away shortly after !!!! That happened to my brother !!
@Indonesia-Phil saidKudo's on you for admitting your error, shows you have an open mind, a good thing🙂
I've given myself a hearty slap on the wrist for introducing the word 'design' into my post; sloppy work. Anyway thanks for the response and article.
Animals with larger fangs, or tusks, may have a capacity for carnivorism. Alternatively, their 'design' or appearance thereof, from creationist theory (which is consistent in reasoning) suggests sharp teeth, inherited by a parental gene, allows scavenging away brushes, bark, husks, nutty vegetable, etc. If evolution resolved to the type of ancillary functions like scare tactics having a role for evading predators, then it seems overwhelmingly such that it has sense of appearances.
A very general reamrk: A lot of people don't undersatnd the theory of evolution:
Evolution has no "aims".
So eveolution doesn't "want", "plan" or "design" anything.An organ has a function not because it was "intended" but because it proved to be useful by the stresstest of live.
And yes we still have structures in our body, which don't seem to have any "use" that would be expected by the theory of evolution. Some might proove to be an advantage some won't.
@Indonesia-Phil saidAs a species we are not really depending on our teeth (especially with the advances in dentistry). I don't expect any serious change the next few generations until they may become a factor again.
Anyone out there know anything about teeth? I was always taught that we have two canine teeth, I certainly have them, quite distinct from my other teeth, nestling between my incisors and pre - molars and designed for ripping flesh. Thing is, on the odd occasion that I notice people's teeth, on TV and so on, some people seem not to have them, and I certainly know people ...[text shortened]... e we losing our canine teeth in an evolutionary way, now that we're not having to rip flesh anymore?
With the advent of cosmetic dentistry expect to see more people with "perfect" teeth, whatever the style will be at a given time.
@Ponderable saidExcept there may be some natural selection at work here. Those with excellent teeth are more heavily sought after as mates, and thus have a better chance of passing on their genes.
As a species we are not really depending on our teeth (especially with the advances in dentistry). I don't expect any serious change the next few generations until they may become a factor again.
With the advent of cosmetic dentistry expect to see more people with "perfect" teeth, whatever the style will be at a given time.
@venda saidWell allergies can be interpreted as a sign of unfit adaption. People carrying these genes will be sorted out if the afflcition is severe enough ADN if there is no medicinal help for them. As humans we take an effect in evolution by keeping genes in the pool. (And no in the terms of evolution this is neither good nor bad, evolution has no moral).
There are many factors in humans and other species which are not dependent on evolution such as why do some people develop allergies for no obvious reason?
On teeth my brother had a baby tooth which never came out.He had it taken out recently.He's 67!