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. 

Operative Dentistry

Operative Dentistry or O.D (being medicos that's the first thing we do to any given terminology, that is, cut it short!), is my favorite subject of second year at college. For all those who are still wondering what it is about, it is a subject of Dental Science. O.D deals with cavity preparations and filling. So now you have a basic idea about it.
It all started in the 'Phantom head lab'( a pre-clinical set up where we practice tooth cavity preparations on mannequin).I had a look at it once, when I was a fresher. Was so curious to work on it, and now when I actually do, I feel that inquisitive Dentist in me.

HISTORY:
Our first exercise was definitely an introduction , where we were briefed about the field of study. Then came the elephant sized tooth, on which we had to make cavities (which we are supposed to burr drill on patient's tooth). We use narrow and broad chisels for cavity preparation on a plaster model. (My topic will lose interest if I start explaining the dental instruments, maybe if I come up with something interesting on them, later ;) )

My first try at forming the chisel-cut 'well' into the model, where the faculty told me, I can rest with a blanket! ;)

Later on, we were made to wax fill the self-made cavities, just so as to have an idea, what cavity filling is like.
                                                                                                       

I could hear them say-'Perfect!'

Wax filling and carving.

PRESENT:
Now we no more have to work on the above shown plaster models. Acrylic teeth!

My dentist dost at work! Poser :)

Okay, the terminology rolls in! So the mannequin wait for us in the Phantom head lab. We then fix base with teeth screwed in it. Set it in position, as in the height we feel ourselves comfortable to work at. Arrange the instruments, which are classified as diagnostic, cutting, carving, burnishing, and post-carving instruments(in order of usage). Micromotor(MM) (that appears to me as a sea horse), fixed on the handle, the burr(straight, inverted cone, tapering, round) we have to work with is adjusted into the MM. We start with the cutting of and finally constructing a cavity. Till now we have mastered(yeah!) class I, Class II, MOD cavity preparations. That's enough for us at the end of first sem of the II year! Phew!


HEADS UP:
Most of us don't care about the sitting position,which has been stated to be:

• Upright, with comfortably occupying the whole chair, so as to be in a stable posture. 
• The feet should firmly rest on the ground. 
• Pen grip hold on the micromotor. 
• Not to bend and enter the patient's mouth, he surely won't like that.(For maxillary cavity preparation  most of us did!)
• Not to wear rings/watch/accessories while at work.(Since they can be a cause of infection)
• Always use a mouth mirror.

FUTURE:
Is in my hands, and patients mouth! :) Eagerly waiting to be in III year!!!