[pests]

That was apparently their purpose back when we lost teeth more regularly - it's only with modern dentistry that they become a problem for being "extra"

It was not an intentional replacement or anything the dentist did. I had my back molars pulled and then a few years later while trying to start flossing again I noticed they were back and basically in the same position. I doubted myself for a moment if my memory was failing. Just such a slow long process.