HIGH POINT, N.C., May 21, 2012 – Dr. Mark Teaford, professor of physical therapy in the School of Health Sciences, recently attended an international workshop on “evolutionary dentistry” at the Evolutionary Synthesis Center in Durham, North Carolina. The Synthesis Center hosted professors and researchers from across the globe to discuss the evolution of human teeth and jaws and the implications they may have on dentistry and orthodontics.
Teaford had the opportunity to discuss many topics, including the dental and orthodontic problems that may relate to discordance between the properties of our foods and those to which our teeth and jaws evolved. Researchers hope that this session will help to unify discussions of new perspectives in dentistry.
“The goal of the meeting was to explore how evolutionary perspectives might lead to changes in treatment or practice within modern dentistry,” said Teaford.
Teaford worked with participants from Duke University, Science Magazine, the Natural History Museum in London, and many others. Teaford plans for this experience to eventually impact HPU students in his classroom and in student advising.
“The meetings facilitated the exchange of ideas between researchers with very different perspectives,” said Teaford. “The information I gathered will allow HPU students to have a broader view of the field of dentistry.”
At High Point University, every student receives an extraordinary education in an inspiring environment with caring people.℠ HPU, located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina, is a liberal arts institution with over 4,200 undergraduate and graduate students at campuses in High Point and Winston-Salem. It is ranked by US News and World Report at No. 3 among Regional Colleges in the South. Parade Magazine lists HPU in the top 25 private schools in the nation. HPU was selected in the 2010-2011 list of “Colleges of Distinction,” as well as one of the top green schools in the country by the Sierra Club. The university offers 44 undergraduate majors, 40 undergraduate minors and 10 graduate degree programs. It is a member of the NCAA, Division I and the Big South Conference. Visit High Point University on the Web at highpoint.edu.
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Pam Haynes
Communication Specialist
336-841-9055
[email protected]