While malocclusions—crowded or misaligned teeth—have been found among our hunter-gatherer ancestors, they appear to be more prevalent in modern populations. So what changed?

The researchers carefully compared the newly discovered teeth with known specimens of Australopithecus afarensis (Lucy’s species) and early Homo. They found that these teeth belonged to both early ...

Braces, rubber bands, even jaw surgery—millions endure them in pursuit of a straighter smile. But were misaligned smiles always this common? Research suggests that might not be the case. While ...

While “there does seem to be a pattern” of increased malocclusions among post-industrialization humans, Lawrence adds, not all changes in teeth alignment can be attributed to diet.