Human jaw design

“The modern human dentition appears well adapted to sustain high loads, being characterized by large tooth root surface areas and tooth enamel that is relatively thicker than in any other extant hominid. These features are widely considered to be indicators of both a capacity to resist high loadings and dietary preference. Consequently, the presence of thick tooth enamel and large tooth root surface areas in modern humans are explained as plesiomorphies that have been retained, whereas other associated features of the masticatory apparatus have been reduced.”

From *The craniomandibular mechanics of being human*, Wroe et al. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2010.0509