Teeth can solve a crime. They can help trace human migration patterns and so aid in our understanding of how the world's land was dispersed.
Teeth can identify disease.
Patterns in a child's tooth can tell us about a mother's illness. Teeth from ancient skulls can tell the modern investigator about diseases that were prevalent centuries ago. Teeth tell us about cultural differences. Ethnic origins are revealed by variations in tooth size and shape. Many Central and South American Indians, both historic and present, carve distinguishing patterns in their teeth.