The Mythology of Dental Science

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger doesn't apply here.
Tee-hee!

Generally, myths are to provide explanations about events that have happened in the past. They enlighten us about the big picture that is the world. 

But myths are unbending in structure, and they come in versions. And as strange as it might sound, dental myths are the same the world over.

Below I have a list of the most common dental myths that patients come up with. 

Madam,  I have heard that getting a tooth removed could affect one's vision. 

ME: That's great! Come. Here is a functional diagram that depicts how different branches of the same nerve provide for eyes and teeth.

MYTH: Madam, someone I know got treated at another dental care, told me that dental procedures could cause cancer. 

ME:  Oh! Sure he/she must have asked for a discount at the dentist. Ask him/her to see an astrologer.  

Poor dental hygiene, addiction to tobacco or tobacco-containing products/cancer-causing chemicals, lack of exercise, certain viruses, and prolonged exposure to the sun and other types of radiation could trigger cancer cells. MYTH BUSTED!

MYTH: I have heard that getting teeth cleaned could also damage them.

ME: No! But I understand if you'd like to live with deposits in between and around your teeth. Let's see if that doesn't do any damage. 

What's done is done! You can't change the past. You just have to forget about it and move on, even if it's really, really bad. 

Not to worry, a periodontist could manage the state of affairs. Just don't wait for it this long. :)

These myths/guesses startle me, even to this day. But with time I have developed a liking to the old wives' tales. Dentistry could only be fun in two ways, exceptional work and communicating with patients.

One patient didn't know about the scaling procedure but wanted to get her teeth cleaned. I guided her about it. Once the calculi or tartar broke off the teeth, the patient got scared if the teeth were being chipped off. I had a mixed reaction to her putting her fingers inside her mouth to confirm if what is getting removed wasn't her teeth. Heights!

Learning to trust is one of life's most difficult tasks. - Isaac Watts

Seeing such clients once in a blue moon is fine, but I see two to three such patients daily who have vague notions about dentistry as if teeth are an alien concept to them. Of course, it's fun listening to them making dentistry appear as some voodoo religion, but not when they have doubts while seated on the chair. I may not get distracted by it. My job is to restore their faith in the treatment. 

For the record, I should criticize a lack of dental education and interest from parents for ignorance related to dental hygiene in people. Teeth are a principal part of the digestive system, yes. Ask a golden-ager who doesn't have natural teeth to bite and chew their food.

I paid a home visit to an elderly patient in her sixties recently. She had a removable dental prosthesis to aid in chewing food. She also had a medical condition, arthritis. She couldn't chew food even with the prosthesis, neither did she have the energy to engage in chewing the food. Her daughter told me that she hasn't been able to chew food properly in weeks. 

Another elderly patient who was on post-COVID care couldn't help eating cheese sandwiches or soft food daily. He said he would like a fixed prosthesis to aid him in eating home-cooked food. 

Dental myths are only to prevent one from getting actual dental treatment. Losing teeth is difficult to accept and also negatively impacts self-esteem. I recommend the prevention of tooth loss for people of any age.

P.S. The "4 out of 5 dentists recommend" is a swindle. And 4 out of 5 dentists agree. ;)

Fin.