03 - Vampires and fangs: a biological analysis

This was originally just a bit of drafts and researches made by someone powered by sugar. Since it was too long to be only rotting in my notebook, decided to translate, clean up and add a discussion I had with my friend about it. Talking about vampire anatomy, mainly. Blog with ambient auto-music!

Introduction.

Hello internet traveler! After scrolling down on the classic YT for something to watch while dining, I stumbled on the classic Vampire Biology Explained by Thought Potato (watched three times already, 100% recommend watching it before reading this blog). This video is a classic and opened my interest in a couple of others and so the subject of anatomy of fantasy/monsters anatomy and its variations compared to human's.

Although, I do have things to add once I got to study more within the health field. For newcomers, I am an undergraduate dental student for a year and a bit more, and even if my knowledge isn't more than I desired to write this blog, the topic and points I could add regarding the vampirism odontology can be discussed a bit by now. So, who knows, once I reach 2 (or perhaps even more) years studying of study, I can make a more complete and informed research (with less or more technical terms), or perhaps about other species too.

Taking in consideration that not everything wrap around "magic" and "rituals", stay with this (not so) small analysis.

Fangs.

Even the most lay person aware of the minimum word "vampire" can associate this monster species for the presence of pale skin, brighter red/yellow eyes and, surely, the fangs. In some cases, there are even whom believe in the mythology itself

"I believe that vampiric beings behave in a way that is not very similar to the ancient ones of classical mythology, as there are many modern adaptations." - my bsf, starpea☆ here in spacehey

Regarding all these myths a retelling, the part where I have more to speak, but it's surely the most mischaracterized, it's terms of biology. Taking in consideration of so, exists different interpretations of how the fangs appear in recent transformed people.

In classic media, vampires can easily retract their fangs in order to drink blood, a simple "sharpened" of the canines (or any other teeth depending on the media you are imagining into). Taking in consideration forums and research in beliefs, people claim theories similar to:

1. Ameloblasts and odontoblasts (aka cells specialized into developing teeth) are stimulated to produce a quick growth of an already existent teeth;

2. Fangs grow above the upper canine teeth and conventionally cover the pre-existent canines normal humans have;

3. Once grown, fangs have a special musculature developed just for its movement;

4. Vampires have the similarities to venomous snakes.

(there are probably more, but this is what I got in my simple research)

Well, taking by the idea of something scientifical of a virus taking an all healthy human being, some of those assumptions are correct while some others aren't… as scientifically completed.

It's by picking the books of Katchburian, it's noticeable how the formation of enamel consists by a result of pressure and obstruction of the ameloblasts, and by that their inability of the body to be further created and stimulated once the tooth erupted it's impossible and, by that, invalidating the theory that human canines can simply "grow" and elongate;

By that, the most validate theory is that humans infected with this mutating viruses, while in their brief coma, starts a mass production of ameloblasts and odontoblasts inside both upper and lower gum. This way, once the transformation is complete, the vampire will have either his permanent (or baby) human canines fallen and replaced by healthy permanent fangs or (what I find more coherent) canines that develop and are retractable in the mandible above the human canines.

To visualize it, I would consider this video published by Dan Rebert (@monstersandmakeupeffects on Instagram). With the use of human art to create practical effects, this team managed to develop exactly what a scientific approach of a vampire using their fangs in a practical sense.

But how such fangs would be sustained? What would be making this movement of retraction? There is where similarities with snakes appears, in the end, venomous snakes have muscles specially designed for the retraction and rapid emergence of prey in the form of an attack… A vampire being able to develop such muscles in their coma transformation period is possible, although, due to being a new muscle to the body, it's possible the lack of control in the initial periods of time.

Although, what's definitely clear, the human cranium definitely doesn't have same structure to such mobility and newly pairs of fangs and more muscles in the cranium. By that, it's necessary more circulation of blood, a development of a new neuronal ramification and, surely, a form to coexist without interference in other muscles, organs and overall face anatomy. So here it's some points I would take in consideration for the interference of retractable fangs:

1. Jaw dislocation: placing the brick of the snake analogy again, people sometimes believe that, in the process of attack, a vampire would dislocate their whole jaw to leave more space open for the biting process. And that's pretty much wrong due to how much damage such mobility cause to most (if not all) organs of the face. A lot lost just for one night well fed is not sustainable. But who knows, in a very desperate starving moment, perhaps?

1. The fangs placing, and the areas affected: Here is a funny form of view. Retractable ones would have its structure coupled attached within the gums, but taking into account their great elongation, it would be impossible to position them without interfering with the entire dental arch at once. So, regarding the upper fangs, it would have a penetration into the paranasal sinuses (fun fact! There are various theories inside the medical field regarding sinuses function. It would be of the cranium equilibrium, to help the breathing and/or the voice vibrations. So this implies how vampires with retractable fangs might have "health disorders" with all of those lol), such presence inside those areas guarantee that the "patient" have cases of constant sinusitis (yeah… those types of vampire have that while in human form haha). Now, for the over fangs (taking in consideration those are smaller), it would have more penetration and support at the genie-hyoid and mylohyoid muscles, and perhaps slight interference with the sublingual gland, resulting, physically, in a greater protuberance of the chin.

2. Blood distribution and neuron ramifications: Due to the much faster vampiric metabolism, I won't see this as a long period problem. This, however, highlight how much exhaustive the process of feeding becomes once transformed.

Taking it as a point of topic, it's visible how much a vampire sacrifice in the sake of feeding. However, it doesn't mean that the act of biting is only consistent of feeling full of the stomach. With a talk with my best friend, Hunterpedia (@violletzzi on X/twitter), a goth and certified vampire lover, both of us came into conclusion that vampires goes beyond at biting. "They like to drink, feast and get dirty with blood [...] It goes beyond feeding, it is almost sexual in nature.", by that, it's clear how this is all about intimacy and, in some cases, something that goes to a messy line of control, prohibitions and a deep raw need.

Plus, it comes the question majority of lay people tends to have… Vampire's fangs works like straws? To a simple mind it would work as an aggregate, complement and perfect fit with the "snake theory". The space, once destined for the deposit of poison, would serve as a straw. Well, no. According to my bsf once more, her words consist in: "I believe the shape of the fangs is related to the relationship between blood-drinking bats, which also have fangs. But if you go by the literature, the fangs are more closely related to the canine teeth of wolves and animals of the lupus family. After all, Count Dracula transforms into a wolf several times." therefore, the suction process and, consequently, there are appearences of hickeys on the victim's skin after bite. It's to open a wound, not to be a very big and fancy butterfly.

"Hey, that was it? Are you only talking about retractable fangs?? Not all vampires have those. And [insert specific media here]? It's totally different!"

It comes to knowledge that, even if I mentioned and focused more in retractable fangs, it doesn't mean the lack of other fangs in media.

Vampires are a myth much utilized for many pieces of media and in many forms too! I sure am not someone very inside its literature, and I do know this may not cover all interpretations of it. This is just my interpretation regarding what I learned in my studies, so if you read all of this (you are probably really bored or insane), feel free to ask questions and I can do my best to answer regarding the topic.

Thank you for your attention, dear reader, sorry for any grammar mistakes and goodbye <3

The Vampedia, reddit, tumblr and the Smithsonian magazine were used as research besides the dental books of my undergraduation. Images came from pinterest, all right to their creators (once found the right sources, this blog will be edited with it).