Scanning microscopy exam of hominoid dental enamel surface: Exploring the effect of abrasives in the diet

Understanding the relationship between diet and tooth use in prehistoric species could be an important key to draw insights into their dietary adaptation as modern nutritional and biological patterns. Over the past decades, research has studied masticatory movements and microscopic wear patterns on teeth (dental microwear) from extant and extinct mammals as an approach to the feeding adaptations in an evolutionary perspective. Microwear density and length by orientation recorded on micrographs using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) on occlusal and non-occlusal molar surfaces from interspecies’ comparison show a variability regarding foodstuff, chewing mechanisms and food processing techniques in the context of the hardness of food items consumed. This paper reviews the literature related to studies of non-human primates, fossil hominids and human dental microwear. Many new questions related to scanning electron technology and its results can be drawn.