Citation

Whittaker DK. Br. Dent. J. 2004; 196(4): 237.

Affiliation

University of Wales College of Medicine, Forensic Dentistry, 4th Floor, Heath Park, Cardiff CF4 4XY, Wales, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, British Dental Association)

DOI

10.1038/sj.bdj.4810991

PMID

15039746

Abstract

Carnivorous animals, like dogs or tigers, use their teeth in two distinct ways. They kill their prey primarily using their canines and they tear and slice the flesh to produce digestible fragments. Human teeth are designed principally to cut and grind food which is usually previously prepared. Some people appear to revert to more primitive instincts and use their canines and incisors to inflict bites on unsuspecting victims.

Language: en