Recognizing Significance

The field of dentistry is important for a variety of social and medical reasons.  First off, beside being crucial to eating, having good teeth in our modern day society is expected.  It is a part of our culture to straighten and maintain our teeth.  Second, when issues arise (ex. cavities) it is a medical issue that must be dealt with.  Third, infections can cause gum disease which can cause tooth loss and is another issue that must be dealt with.  These are only a few reasons that the dental field is significant.  Overall, the medical field has become an important part of our health and culture and will stay relevant.  As well respected members of society, dentists contribute to health, culture, and general well being of community.
Cited:
"Why Is Dental Health Important? How Are Dental Caries Formed? What Is Tooth Erosion?" Medical News Today. MediLexicon International, 30 May 2004. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/8881.php>.

Modern Advertisement

According to Dentistry Today, a new app is in production which will allow potential patients to search for well established dental practices in their area.  The app will allow patients to see reviews, contact info, website link, and google map directions.  The app costs $59 per year to advertise and is of the latest technology in advertisement (smartphones).  There is also the option of paying a $200 dollar lifetime fee.  While I can't see this app being all too popular, it is a modern approach to making a dental practice successful.  The app will be called "Dental411".

Cited:
Dentistry Today. "How to Get More Patients to Your Practice Using Smartphones." How to Get More Patients to Your Practice Using Smartphones. N.p., 6 Nov. 2012. Web. 11 Nov. 2012. <http://www.dentistrytoday.com/industry-news/8245-how-to-get-more-patients-to-your-practice-using-smartphones>.

Practicing Your Knowledge

Last summer I did a short internship at a family friend's dental practice.  Though I wasn't allowed to actually do anything hands on due to insurance issues, I watched procedures such as putting braces on, taking them off, x-rays, and dental moldings.  I learned a lot in this experience about what everyday work in the field is like.  Though I have done a decent amount of research on the subject, I learned a lot more in an internship because I got to communicate with the customers as well as professionals.  While learning from writing offers a lot of data and raw information on the subject, doing an internship teaches you what the field is actually like and allows you to understand the field in a broader sense.

Amalgam Approved by APHA

The ADA recently recognized the American Public Health Associations recognition of Amalgam as a safe and effective filling material.  As stated in the last post of my blog, Amalgam is made up of a combined silver, copper, tin, and elemental mercury.  This combination creates a filling material that is easy to apply for younger or disabled patients who have a harder time sitting still during the procedure.  Though the element mercury is present in the material, the American Public Health Association has "unmatched" credibility in matters concerning safe material as it is the oldest organization of public health in the world.
Cited:
Dentistry Today. "ADA Statement on the American Public Health Association's." ADA Statement on the American Public Health Association's. N.p., 9 Nov. 2012. Web. 11 Nov. 2012. <http://www.dentistrytoday.com/industry-news/8261-ada-statement-on-the-american-public-health-associations>.

Contemplating Controversy

The use of dental Amalgam is becoming controversial due to its contents of mercury, its "semi-permanent" properties, and its known ability to dry, crack, or fracture teeth that it is filling.  Though these properties of Amalgam are known, it is still used as a primary filament for teeth by many dentists.  This is in part due to its semi-permanent properties which cause the Amalgam to fail after a number of years.  This failure requires replacement and thus the dentist makes more money.  Instead of using Amalgam, dentists should begin using only porcelain or gold inlays.  Dentists should be focusing on the patient's satisfaction rather than their own bank account...

by Russell Erickson, DDS, Portland, Oregon

THE USE OF DENTAL AMALGAM HAS BECOME CONTROVERSIAL IN DENTISTRY

Most people know that, but they remain unaware of the most important details.

The controversy revolves around mercury, and rightly so, as mercury is a major component of dental amalgam.

Early in my practice, my concerns about dental amalgam were raised after observing that the material is only semi-permanent.

It is clear that even excellently placed dental amalgam restorations (fillings) begin to show signs of failure after as little as 5-8 years. Most dental amalgam restorations definitely need to be replaced after 10-15 years due to material failure.  Now, why would any dental doctor want to provide a dental restoration that has “built in” material failure happening in as little as 5-8 years?  The material, in my opinion, desiccates (dries out) teeth making them more brittle and prone to cracks and fractures. Several times every month, I see patients who suffer from broken teeth that have dental amalgam restorations.

But the most important concern with dental amalgam is the mercury. 

WHAT IS DENTAL AMALGAM?

Silver	69.3%
Tin	17.9%
Copper	11.8%
Zinc	1%
Mercury Ratio	50%

Cited:

Erickson, Russell. "Dental Amalgam Controversy, by Dr. Russell Erickson." Dental Amalgam Controversy, by Dr. Russell Erickson. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. <http://www.lovetakestime.com/art-dentalamalgam.html>.

Tooth Tattoos

New technology developed at Princeton not only may be a new fad among tattoo enthusiasts, but it can detect tooth decay, gum disease, and even AIDS or stomach ulcers.  Though I myself would not want a tattoo on my tooth I'm sure there are people out there that would not be opposed.  These tattoos are another way in which dentists could protect teeth before they begin to decay, ultimately saving the patient time and money.  -

The tattoo, which was developed at Princeton University and Tufts University, contains a sensor that measures the bacteria levels in the mouth. The sensor is made of gold, graphite and silk.  After completing the bacteria measurement in the mouth, the sensors can determine when a patient is at risk for developing gum disease. The sensors may also have the ability to predict the risk for other diseases, which is a result of studying the data from the saliva. AIDS and stomach ulcers were two of the diseases the sensor was able to determine risk for.  The tooth tattoo hasn’t been tested on people yet, however, the trials on cow teeth have yielded promising results.

Cited:

"Tooth Tattoo May Curb Gum Disease." Tooth Tattoo May Curb Gum Disease. N.p., 9 Nov. 2012. Web. 10 Nov. 2012. <http://www.dentistrytoday.com/todays-dental-news/8262-tooth-tattoo-may-curb-gum-disease>.

Evaluating Sources

The fluoride debate, was brought up to point out the fault in putting fluoride in public drinking water. Though it does remove some bacteria and keep teeth that much cleaner, it needs to be removed from the public water supply.  By recommending that fluoride be in drinking water, the ADA is doing more damage than good.  Children under the age of three have an unsafe amount of fluoride in their system just from their home drinking water.  The FDA has not approved fluoride as a safe drug and therefor it should be taken out of the populations safe water.  There isn't even enough evidence to prove that it really effects the overall population in a beneficial way.

We believe that if people take the time to read and study both sides of the fluoridation debate — especially the science that has emerged over the last ten years — they will be appalled by the practice of putting this known toxic substance into the public drinking water. The benefits have been wildly exaggerated and the risks have been downplayed.

Behind the scenes many dentists acknowledge this situation but the ADA maintains such a stranglehold on the profession that it is dangerous for them to become openly critical of the practice of fluoridation. Even though the ADA is an association, not a governmental agency, it has a great deal of influence on dental matters through its lobbyists in Washington, DC and the almost universal and dominant presence of its members on State Dental Boards. These Boards have the power to remove a license from a practicing dentist in the state, and thus can keep dentists in line on controversial issues like fluoridation.

We hope that this website will encourage more dentists to break ranks with the ADA and rescue this profession from its shortsighted promotion of this dangerous, unethical and unnecessary practice.

THIS WEBSITE CONTAINS EVIDENCE THAT ...

• Fluoridation is not about "children's teeth". Rather, it is about industry ridding itself of crude hazardous waste products, silicofluorides, for a profit. Silicofluorides are 85 times more toxic than naturally-occurring calcium fluoride.

• Fluoride is more toxic than lead and like lead in minute doses, accumulates in and can be damaging to brain/mind development of children, producing abnormal behavior in animals and reducing IQ in humans, especially in conjunction with deficiencies of key nutrients such as calcium, iodine and vitamins. It can also contribute to many disease processes. Because it is almost as toxic as arsenic, fluoride's ability to play havoc in the human body should surprise no one.

• There is as much, or more, dental decay in fluoridated communities as there is in the non-fluoridated areas; however, the dental costs are higher in fluoridated communities due to dental fluorosis. Drinking fluoridated water may delay decay, but it does not prevent it.

• Dental fluorosis is not simply a "cosmetic effect". Dental fluorosis is the first visible sign of fluoride poisoning. Today there is an increased prevalence of dental fluorosis, ranging from about 15% to 65% in fluoridated areas and 5% to 40% in non-fluoridated areas in North America.

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) scientists, after studying all the evidence, concluded that the public water supply should not be used "as a vehicle for disseminating this toxic and prophylactically useless ... substance."

• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that fluoride is not a mineral nutrient; it is a prescription drug. Every prescription drug has side-effects, including fluoride. Fluoride has never received FDA approval and does not meet the legal requirements of safety and effectiveness necessary for such approval. Once this drug is put in the water there is no control over individual dosage.

• The American Dental Association supplement schedule shows that fluoride prescription drugs should not be given to infants under 6 months of age. One cup of water per day for children age 6 months to 3 years matches the supplement controlled dose. Therefore, in fluoridated areas, most children under 3 are getting an overdose of this drug via their drinking water, yet the ADA continues to recommend fluoridation.

• The widespread and uncontrolled use of fluoride in our water, dental products, and foods and beverages (grown and processed in fluoridated communities), is causing pervasive over-exposure to fluoride in the U.S. population. Most developed countries have rejected, stopped, or banned fluoridation because there is no margin of safety.

• Fluoride is not just "one of forty chemicals used to treat water". It is the only chemical added to public drinking water to treat individuals, rather than the water. It is mass medication. This website explains why a good number of leading scientists, doctors, and some dentists are avidly opposed to putting fluoride in our water supply. It also shows that this controversy has existed in the scientific field from the onset.

http://www.fluoridedebate.com/