Perspectives Should the shown to have ‘dramatic effects on summary of the literature may point tooth bud initiation and early tooth to a solution. Rather than prophylactic development of third development’.2 removal, the solution is to determine They conclude that the cause. Rather than looking at molars be prevented ‘evolution likely favoured the evolution as a means of understanding early in life? development of large third molars this problem, it seems far more fruitful and the added chewing surfaces to evaluate recent shifts in lifestyle. Jerry Bergman they provided when jaws were Diet has been closely linked with jaw large and there was a survival development in children. Typically, a 3 Anthony Silvestri and Igbal Singh advantage to possessing teeth.’ diet that requires more chewing causes the jaw to become larger, and wisdom recently revisited the problem of third 4 molars in The Journal of the American Has the jaw size gradually shortened teeth to be less problematic. The Dental Association.1 The authors in human history? authors agree with this observation, concluded that third molars evolved noting that evidence indicates dental because they were of enormous benefit Given the evolutionary assumption pathology among ‘prehistoric people’ for our ancestors. In modern humans, that humans have evolved from a was relatively low. Assuming that this however, they are sometimes a problem chimp-like common ancestor, the is correct, the next step is to determine and a source of pain because ‘jaw sizes first question that must be answered why. They note that ‘toward the end th have shortened over the ages’ and, is, has the jaw size, in fact, gradually of the 17 century, people experienced as a result, so has ‘the space that is shortened in human evolution? A a dramatic increase in the prevalence necessary for third molars’ inclusion.’1 comparison of modern-day chimps of dental disease, most likely a result Based on this, they advocate that the with humans (controlling for age and of a dramatic shift in lifestyles and dental-research community should body size) shows that human jaws are diets’ which produced not only more develop new innovative ‘preventive’ clearly smaller. However, a literature third molar problems, but a ‘dramatic approaches to deal with this problem, review of the abundant humanoid acceleration in the rate of dental such as prevention of third molar fossils indicates a lack of such evidence disease associated … with every other development early in life before in modern Homo sapiens in the time tooth’ as well.5 any third-molar tooth development period evolutionists estimate (10,000 They also correctly point out that begins. years). Silvestri and Singh admit that cooking techniques, such as boiling, Initiation of third molars occurs ‘evolution is a complicated subject soften foods greatly, and that foods just millimetres below the oral mucosa with many differing theories that today are processed to the degree that in children. Silvestri and Singh suggest are being re-examined in the light people can survive on certain diets that electro surgery with lasers or of emerging genetic discoveries’,1 even if they possessed no teeth at locally delivered teratogens (chemicals and suggest that some of the work all. In addition, as a result of cultural that interfere with development, such as done by investigators, to explain changes, ‘people have experienced those that cause birth defects—the most evolutionary changes in teeth, amounts a decreased dependency on all tooth famous example is thalidomide) can be to ‘speculation’. types, particularly third molars, over used to block their development. The the ages’.3 The problem, as they rightly authors recommend experimentation Recent shifts in lifestyle conclude, involves less need for any with compounds such as retinoic teeth today, especially molars and acid and citral, which have been Silvestri and Singh’s accurate ‘particularly third molars’. TJ 18(1) 2004 13 Perspectives than by empirical evidence. It is also an excellent example of how Darwinism presuppositions can impede or misdirect research. The focus should clearly be on nutritional factors, possible teratogens, or other factors that affect normal development. The literature of other cultures shows that diet is a critical factor, and this argues that part of the solution for unhealthy teeth is the same solution as that for many other modern health problems—i.e. good diet, exercise, healthy living, etc. Silvestri and Singh argue for an unspecified influence of Darwinism Courtesy of orthodontist, Peter Grant that is admittedly based on a great Full mouth x-ray scan showing impacted wisdom teeth (arrows). deal of speculation. Conversely, This information points to a of jaw-growth pattern, as well as creationists argue that the problems solution of the problem—evaluation changes in the migration of dental can be explained by the Fall, primarily of the soft, so-called ‘mashed potato lamina (both problems related to in the area of environmental and social diet’ that barely requires teeth in the factors, including nutrition, diet and third molar pathology) occur due to 4 first place. Just as many humans are ‘environmental factors such as trauma teratogens. less and less dependent on muscles and disease’. In addition, the reasons References for transportation (many of us drive some people have third molar problems almost everywhere, even to a neighbor ‘remain elusive’.3 Before we can who lives a block away), one could 1. Silvestri, A.R., Jr. and Singh, I., The unre- attribute such problems to Darwinism, solved problem of the third molar: would argue that surgical removal of excess it is necessary to more fully understand people be better off without it? J. American muscle tissue will solve the problem of the environmental factors (such as Dental Association 134:450–455, 2003; p. 450. flabbiness common in our society (and teratogens) that ‘have been shown to the concomitant muscle problems)—a 2. Silvestri and Singh, ref. 1, p. 453. affect tooth development’.3 Focusing solution that is obviously foolish. only on a solution based on evolutionary 3. Silvestri and Singh, ref. 1, p. 451. The remedy is to use the body as it ideas can detract from evaluating 4. Bergman, J., Are wisdom teeth (third molars) was designed, i.e. to exercise, as is environmental factors with respect to vestiges of human evolution? TJ 12(3):297 universally recommended by the health 304, 1989. their role in tooth pathology. community. Likewise, applying this 5. Silvestri and Singh, ref. 1, p. 452. The authors also admit the third- same philosophy to the third-molar teeth problem, one solution may be a molar problem is complicated by the healthier diet, including one high in fact that our understanding of the fibre, raw fruits and vegetables, which problem is very limited, based on requires more vigorous chewing. not only ‘little or no histopathologic evaluation of tissue’, but also the fact Factors involved in the that much of the morbidity data on 5 development of teeth problems wisdom teeth is ‘inherently flawed’. As a result, a controversy even exists A number of factors are involved over when to extract wisdom teeth, and in the development of teeth problems the whole question of how to handle and, admittedly, the third molars have problematic third molars.5 the highest frequency of problems. Yet as the authors note, around 35% Conclusion of the population does not have any problems with even a single wisdom This article is an excellent example tooth by age twenty, and many people of the abuses to which evolutionary have problems with only one or two theory can potentially lead, as their of them.1 recommendation for intervention The authors admit that alteration is driven more by evolution theory 14 TJ 18(1) 2004.