This book introduces the achievements of dental anthropology research in
Japan to the people in the world. It starts with the tooth morphology of
the people in the Paleolithic Period about 20,000 years ago. Then it
goes through Jomon Age and Yayoi Age when the admixture of the people
happened. Here the difference of the tooth shape between those two human
groups is emphasized. After these ages, Japanese teeth were not the same
from age to age influenced by the environment. In the current age of
Japan, topics such as third molar agenesis, change of eruption time of
the first permanent teeth, mandibular torus, and high canine are
discussed. These abnormal conditions in Japan also reflect the
characteristic features of Japanese history and culture.