Human Dento-Facial Evolution: Cranial Capacity, Facial Expression, Language, Oral Complications and Diseases

Objectives: To review dento-facial evolution based on fossil data, comparative anatomy, developmental biology and genetics. Modern human evolution reveals profound insight into the technical and biological challenges faced by clinicians in daily practice of dentistry. Materials and Methods: An analysis and review of the literature is presented to further explain the evolutionary forces that have shaped hominins. Results: Modern human evolutionary morphological and biological adaptations allowed improvement of cognitive ability, facial expression, smile and language. However, the increased cranial capacity correlates inversely with a decrease in size of the maxillary and mandibular bones, weakening of the muscles and facial shortening, contributing to dento-facial complications. Moreover, the distinctive differences in origin and development of the dento-facial components have further contributed to these maladies. In addition, human lifestyle transition from nomadic to sedentary increased the incidence of oral diseases. Conclusions: Knowledge of human evolutionary patterns can improve the quality of response by clinicians to biological challenges. The limitations in current treatment modalities can be explained, in part, due to the complexity of the life forms that resulted from evolution. Although there are no rules to predict how evolutionary forces will shape modern humans, the evolution of the dento-facial complex reveals profound insight into our connection to other forms of life and nature.