Let's get to the root of the matter: what is dental anthropology? 

Dental anthropology is the non-clinical study of primate teeth.  Unlike dentists, dental anthropologists are interested in anthropological questions focused on teeth.  These can center on evolution, growth and development, population variation, oral health, diet, stress, age, sexual dimorphism - among many more!  Dental anthropologists can study the teeth of modern humans, non-human primates, and our hominin and hominid ancestors in the distant past.  These studies can focus on any number of aspects of the dentition such as their morphology, microstructure, and changes that occur during one’s lifetime leading to wear, cavities, and other pathological conditions of the oral cavity.