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Interstitial wear
Author(s) -
Wolpoff Milford H.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
american journal of physical anthropology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1096-8644
pISSN - 0002-9483
DOI - 10.1002/ajpa.1330340206
Subject(s) - attrition , tooth wear , masticatory force , orthodontics , medicine
Interstitial wear refers to the attrition between adjacent teeth. With other characteristics, it has been used to indicate savanna adaptation and to separate hominids from pongids. This work discusses a functional model of the factors causing interproximal attrition based on tooth angulation and masticatory movement. Interstitial wear rates are calculated for chimpanzees, australopithecines, and two living human groups. A much higher wear rate occurs for chimpanzee teeth. Limitations in both the adaptive and the phylogenetic meaning of interstitial wear in hominids are suggested.