Getting to the root of the issue: how palaeontology is enriching the study of teeth

Oral biology and palaeontology have a lot of shared history. This talk explores the historical impact that the fossil record has had on the study of teeth, and why oral biology should look to palaeontology now and in the future to address key evolutionary questions.

I will explore this specifically with the evolution of tooth attachment in mammals and reptiles. This vital part of the tooth contains phylogenetic information for palaeontologists, but it is also important for understanding how mammals evolved their characteristic tooth attachment tissues. Using the fossil record in this way may lead to unexpected advances in dentistry.