Supernatural Beliefs About Wisdom Tooth
Jeanne Ranny de Guzman (2011-21102) March 28, 2012
Anthropology 10 WFQ-1 Prof. Felipe Jocano
The teeth are powerful tools essential to people’s daily lives. They are the primary tool used for digestion. They are not just used for tearing, grinding, and chewing food but they are also used in making sounds (“Tooth Anatomy”). The average number of teeth a person has is thirty-two (32), however, due to factors like different sizes in teeth and jaw. Some people might have more teeth, others may have less. Every person has two sets of teeth, the primary and permanent teeth. Normally, children have 20 primary teeth which are replaced by permanent ones usually during the beginning of teenage years (“Tooth Anatomy”). A special kind of teeth, the wisdom teeth or the third molar appears on later ages. This will be the main topic of this mini-paper. We are going to look at the anthropological context and meaning of it. We are going to focus on the archaeological, cultural, and biological aspects of the wisdom teeth. We will also look at the cultural symbolisms and evolutionary aspects and explain them through anthropological terms. Teeth names are very interesting. There are four basic types of teeth: incisors, cuspids (also known as canines), bicuspids (also known as pre-molars), and molars. Teeth are usually named according to their function and position. For example, the cuspids are named that way because they have a pointed surface called “cusp” which are meant for tearing and shredding food. Bicuspids are named that way because they have two “cusps”, which explains why the prefix bi- which means two is attached to the root word. Wisdom teeth are special kinds of molars which are located at the back part of the jaw; they have two to four “cusps” which are meant for grinding and crushing food. However, this type of teeth is more popularly known as wisdom teeth and not molars. Dr. Priveer Sharma says that they are called that way because people are
Anthropology 10 WFQ-1 Prof. Felipe Jocano
The teeth are powerful tools essential to people’s daily lives. They are the primary tool used for digestion. They are not just used for tearing, grinding, and chewing food but they are also used in making sounds (“Tooth Anatomy”). The average number of teeth a person has is thirty-two (32), however, due to factors like different sizes in teeth and jaw. Some people might have more teeth, others may have less. Every person has two sets of teeth, the primary and permanent teeth. Normally, children have 20 primary teeth which are replaced by permanent ones usually during the beginning of teenage years (“Tooth Anatomy”). A special kind of teeth, the wisdom teeth or the third molar appears on later ages. This will be the main topic of this mini-paper. We are going to look at the anthropological context and meaning of it. We are going to focus on the archaeological, cultural, and biological aspects of the wisdom teeth. We will also look at the cultural symbolisms and evolutionary aspects and explain them through anthropological terms. Teeth names are very interesting. There are four basic types of teeth: incisors, cuspids (also known as canines), bicuspids (also known as pre-molars), and molars. Teeth are usually named according to their function and position. For example, the cuspids are named that way because they have a pointed surface called “cusp” which are meant for tearing and shredding food. Bicuspids are named that way because they have two “cusps”, which explains why the prefix bi- which means two is attached to the root word. Wisdom teeth are special kinds of molars which are located at the back part of the jaw; they have two to four “cusps” which are meant for grinding and crushing food. However, this type of teeth is more popularly known as wisdom teeth and not molars. Dr. Priveer Sharma says that they are called that way because people are