Journal of Dental Research, Vol 63, 1043-1046, Copyright © 1984 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Hominoid dental microwear: complications in the use of microwear analysis to detect diet
K. D. Gordon
Analysis of dental microwear on chimpanzee molars reveals much variation
that reflects jaw mechanics and occlusal function rather than diet.
Observed microwear pattern differences relate to variations in molar
position, facet type, and overall age of the tooth. Gradients in the
amounts of shear and compression generated at different points in the molar
series relative to the condyle probably account for pattern variations
associated with molar position, while differences in facet inclination may
affect the vectors of compression and shear, resulting in facet
differences. Age-related pattern differences may be a result of surface and
subsurface variations in enamel hardness. These results demonstrate that
intraspecific and intra-individual differences in microwear may be extreme,
and care must be taken to distinguish normal variation due to occlusal
mechanics from variations due to dietary difference. The finding that
microwear variations are reflective of subtle changes in occlusal forces
and vectors along the tooth row might in itself be a clinically useful
phenomenon.
