Dental Vision Radiology Center

Modern humans’ teeth versus ancient humans’ teeth !!

Modern diets are shrinking our jaws and causing horrific teeth teeth issues that our ancestors never faced.

New research from University College Dublin reveals that the modern struggle with crooked teeth and impacted wisdom teeth is a relatively recent phenomenon in human history.

For thousands of years, our hunter-gatherer ancestors possessed wide, robust jaws that comfortably accommodated a full set of teeth without the need for orthodontic intervention.

By analyzing prehistoric skeletal remains, researchers found that malocclusion—the misalignment of teeth—was remarkably rare compared to the dental issues facing society today, highlighting a significant shift in human craniofacial development linked to our changing environment.

The secret to these ancient, perfect smiles lies in the mechanical stress of a prehistoric diet. Hunter-gatherers consumed tough, fibrous foods that required vigorous chewing, a physical process that stimulated jawbone growth and ensured proper dental alignment. As humans transitioned to the soft, processed foods characteristic of modern life, the lack of chewing intensity led to smaller, narrower jaw structures that haven't kept pace with the size of our teeth. This evolutionary mismatch explains why dental crowding has become a global norm, as our mouths are essentially shrinking while our teeth remain the same size.

source: Pinhasi, R., Eshed, V., & von Cramon-Taubadel, N.. Incongruity between affinity patterns based on mandibular and lower dental dimensions following the transition to agriculture in the Near East, Anatolia and Europe. PLoS ONE.

Still discovering how the human body functions—its creation is truly marvelous, and the complexity of human beings is awe-inspiring.

An entirely new organ has been found behind your nose!

In a remarkable anatomical discovery, scientists have identified a previously unknown pair of salivary glands hidden deep behind the nose—marking the first addition to major human salivary glands in centuries.

Named the tubarial salivary glands, these structures are about 1.5 inches long and sit where the nasal cavity meets the upper throat.

Researchers in the Netherlands stumbled upon them in 2020 while using advanced imaging scans intended for prostate cancer detection. These scans are designed to highlight salivary tissue, and to their surprise, a distinct region lit up in an area long thought to contain no major glands. Follow-up scans of 100 individuals and dissections of two cadavers confirmed the glands' consistent presence.

Though small, these glands play a critical role in moistening the upper throat—particularly during swallowing, breathing, and speaking. But until now, they were completely unknown to medical science. That has real consequences: in head and neck cancer treatments, radiation often unintentionally damages salivary glands, leading to long-term side effects like difficulty swallowing or speaking. After reviewing over 700 cancer cases, researchers found that patients who received higher radiation doses in this newly discovered area experienced more complications. Now that the tubarial glands are recognized, radiation therapy protocols can be adjusted to avoid harming them—offering a straightforward way to improve patient outcomes.

Source: Valstar, M. H., et al. The tubarial salivary glands: a potential new organ at risk for radiotherapy. Radiotherapy and Oncology.

The efficacy of intra-articular morphine injections in arthrogenous temporomandibular joint pain: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

www.sciencedirect.com

عيد فطر مبارك
اعاده الله على الجميع ب الخير و البركات

🌜Wishing you a blessed Ramadan filled with peace, joy, and spiritual growth 🌛