Abstract
Malocclusion is the misalignment of the human dentition and craniofacial complex. Orthodontic treatment to correct this is quite common in modern Western contexts, and has variable prevalence in other areas as well. The archaeological record stands in stark contrast, with most past humans having teeth that align well. What could cause different populations to exhibit these characteristics? There is evidence in both modern and archaeological contexts that levels of dietary masticatory stimulation during development greatly change occlusal characteristics. Additional bite force and number of chewing cycles creates a flatter Curve of Spee, greater subnasal prognathism, and increased progressive tooth wear, which together facilitate better occlusion. With dietary changes such as those seen in the Industrial Revolution, the comparatively softer food creates widespread malocclusion in the effected population. These ideas are explored in terms of archaeological and contemporary case studies. Health transitions such as this commonly coincide with major changes to subsistence style, and can help biological anthropologists better understand the experiences of those in the past.
Highlights
Today, orthodontic correctional treatment is an expensive albeit important part of many people’s lives
While in the past there may be the occasional individual with a misaligned orofacial complex, today it is relatively rare for a post-industrial adolescent not to need some form of dental intervention
There is a clear connection with masticatory strain generated by diet during development and the etiology of malocclusion
Summary
Orthodontic correctional treatment is an expensive albeit important part of many people’s lives. Increased tooth wear (Ingervall and Bitsanis 1987; Kaifu et al 2003; Laird et al 2016; Lieberman et al 2004) This suite of traits facilitates better dental and skeletal occlusion; this is why the modern post-industrial diet results in an epidemiological transition of occlusion and subsequent significantly increased malocclusion in modern populations. An explanation of the dietary transition will follow a treatment of the factors that affect malocclusion. These theories will be explored in relation to several archaeological case studies, and an outline of how malocclusion and diet should be studied on skeletal populations. Consideration will be given to future research in this growing field
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