Tooth decay is a common and unfortunate problem for many of us, but two University of Otago studies show it is also an issue for other primates, as well as our fossil relatives and ancestors.

Dr Ian Towle, the former Sir Thomas Sidey Postdoctoral Fellow in Otago’s Faculty of Dentistry, says cavities are often considered to be a modern disease unique to humans, related to a diet rich in processed sugary foods. However, he says there is growing evidence tooth decay also occurs to a certain extent in other animal groups.

«Our new research shows caries also occurs in wild primates in low frequencies, although this is highly variable among groups and the teeth affected also vary,» he says.

«This research helps us understand changes in diet and behaviour in human evolution; it also provides insight into particular behaviours in our living primate relatives.»

For the research, published in the American Journal of Primatology and South African Journal of Science, Dr Towle and colleagues analysed more than 8000 extant primate and fossil human teeth and assessed variation in tooth decay patterns in relation to diet and behaviour.

They found 3.3 per cent of teeth in living primates had caries, which is similar to the incidence in fossil humans (ranging from 1 to 4 per cent of teeth in different species). However, all caries in the fossil humans samples studied were on back teeth, whereas the vast majority in living primates were on the front teeth.

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