The Demise of Dentistry is near.

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Who knew 2012 was the end of the world...for dentists that is? The Mayans haha probably had this in mind.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...n_1662267.html

Originally Posted by Kobe08

Who knew 2012 was the end of the world...for dentists that is? The Mayans haha probably had this in mind.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...n_1662267.html

I never thought I'd find myself wishing against something that could benefit humanity....this sucks haha

Its already possible to "keep 32" if you take care of your teeth. Society will always need dentist.

Originally Posted by scpredent

Its already possible to "keep 32" if you take care of your teeth. Society will always need dentist.

Haha you're right, it's called brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste. If people can't get this right what makes you think that they'll use this mouth wash or what ever the product maybe to prevent caries! lol

.

as americans, we tend to look for quick solutions. idk, this product could prob sell really quickly at first

This seems interesting, but if people brushed their teeth, flossed regularly, and used mouthwash we would also be worried about having jobs.... but people don't. Also, if this product did work as good as they say it does, a big industry dental equipment manufacturing company would just buy the patent.... and then burn the drug. Dental equipment companies make way too much money to all of the sudden just say, "Well, that sucks, guess we file for bankruptcy and go back to college." They will fork over a couple hundred million and no one will ever hear about this drug again, except when they're sitting in a dental chair and their dentist tells them how they can really "Keep 32". Just my thoughts!

Originally Posted by Wiredtrix

This seems interesting, but if people brushed their teeth, flossed regularly, and used mouthwash we would also be worried about having jobs.... but people don't. Also, if this product did work as good as they say it does, a big industry dental equipment manufacturing company would just buy the patent.... and then burn the drug. Dental equipment companies make way too much money to all of the sudden just say, "Well, that sucks, guess we file for bankruptcy and go back to college." They will fork over a couple hundred million and no one will ever hear about this drug again, except when they're sitting in a dental chair and their dentist tells them how they can really "Keep 32". Just my thoughts!

. this is a good point.

But does it whiten? That's all the masses care about. Looking like a horse.

Originally Posted by jeffity

But does it whiten? That's all the masses care about. Looking like a horse.

also a good point. cosmetic dentistry will remain unscathed

Hahaha the only people who post in this thread are pre-dents.

Originally Posted by Parklife

Hahaha the only people who post in this thread are pre-dents.

It is a pre-dental forum.

Originally Posted by sacapuntas

It is a pre-dental forum.

Check the dental board


Well, I guess if you want to be a health professional you can only become a doctor. Sucks!

Originally Posted by Kobe08

Who knew 2012 was the end of the world...for dentists that is? The Mayans haha probably had this in mind.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...n_1662267.html

I agree with the majority of the posts already made on this thread. Let me just add a few points based on my (limited) dental knowledge.

Tooth decay is ultimately caused by acid erosion. And as bacteria, primarily Streptococcus mutans, grow on the enamel while absorbing sugars, they excrete acids. This in turn erodes the tooth surface and causes tooth decay. Therefore, as long as there is an abundance of acid rich foods around us such as sodas, having an anti-streptococcus mutans WILL NOT pose a danger to our profession.

also lol that this comes from Huffington post.

The only reason they're publishing it is to make a scene. Colgate, crest, or some other major pharma company will buy it up and destroy it. Many things have been invented and have never seen the light of day - like the affordable electric car.


Money speaks, wealth whispers. I don't think this will significantly affect dentistry. I do think that dentistry - like all professions that don't deal with robots directly will eventually be lost.

Originally Posted by Parklife

I do think that dentistry - like all professions that don't deal with robots directly will eventually be lost.

Meaning what? Dentists will eventually be replaced by robots that perform the procedure for you at a mall kiosk? lol

People who are into science fiction and futurists' theory believe that one day robots will replace most human roles in society. I doubt this will ever occur but it's fun to think about. Robotics slugs behind most other technological fields because it's hard (read: limited practical potential) and generally ineffective compared to more economic alternatives.

LOL this is nonsense. There are plenty of other bacteria in the mouth than the one mentioned. People could just brush their teeth and floss as a remedy ...

Originally Posted by yappy

People who are into science fiction and futurists' theory believe that one day robots will replace most human roles in society. I doubt this will ever occur but it's fun to think about. Robotics slugs behind most other technological fields because it's hard (read: limited practical potential) and generally ineffective compared to more economic alternatives.

I'm joking guys.

Look, innovations will incur, everything I've read and everyone I've spoken to says so. From adcom to retiring oral surgeons. Dentistry is not like how it was in the 70s and 80s(shocker of the year, someone call the Higgs-Boson guys, this is the discovery of the century.) We'll all have to change at some point. It's part of life. I can't understand why pre-dents and pre-meds try to look at their profession with rose colored goggles.

I know some of you special little flowers will think I'm being 100% serious, so I'll annotate things for you. The following paragraph is a hyperbole:

Yeah, maybe there will be some magic pill that automatically fixes everything - even orthodontic work. Maybe there will be a pill that induces bone regeneration - no more implants. Maybe we can invent a cavity eliminating once a week pill.

Who knows? Maybe?

hyperbole
Maybe we'll all just genetically engineer humans to not even have flaws and look like Kim Kardashian. The fact is, we're forgetting what we are before "healthcare professionals" - we're scientist too, or at least we should be. Use your dental education and be creative. For being some of the most educated and intelligent people in society, healthcare professionals make quite a cluster fest when little changes happen.


Has the blush gone off dentistry? Are we to be put on the shelf with pharmacy and optometry(which btw is an inaccurate and very uninformed statement)? Well, no, but let's assume it has.

So you lost your practice right? Because everyone is able to afford a 1000 dollar a pop magic pill to protect all your teeth. Your practice will close because people trust a pill and pharma companies over a dentist. All the elderly people just love change anyways. Why visit a dentist? We have pills!


Well, want to eat and have a home? Best to get a job I'd say. Go research dentin properties, salivary gland research, oral oncology, sublingual drug treatment research, oral biology, go study to become something else! Go utilize your hand skills in another form of surgery. Evolve with dentistry. Yeah, it won't be as hands on and there won't be as much patient contact. And worst of all we'll be poor! You will still be employed.

An education really is priceless. I know most people don't understand what I'm getting at here. 300k+ debt yes, I know. You'll never pay it off unless you have your dentist salary, yup you bet. Healthcare professionals are all about money, most of them, yes.

We'll simply have to evolve with the field.

Even in the worse case scenario, I don't think we're in much trouble. Too bad I'm an optimist.

You know what kills s. mutans?

Fluoride.

Killing bacteria isn't the issue; we've been doing that for decades--it's preventing them from coming back. As long as people eat, there'll be bacteria, and there'll be cavities.

Besides, the fact that no one can find any hint of the original research nor can they find any trace of the two supposed project leaders is a little more than sketchy. I'll wait until I see something in a journal.

Originally Posted by cleanup

You know what kills s. mutans?

Fluoride.

Killing bacteria isn't the issue; we've been doing that for decades--it's preventing them from coming back. As long as people eat, there'll be bacteria, and there'll be cavities.

Besides, the fact that no one can find any hint of the original research nor can they find any trace of the two supposed project leaders is a little more than sketchy. I'll wait until I see something in a journal.

I agree. The original source of all the articles seems to be an article on cf.cl, but it gives no additional information.

I don't understand how would the molecule work; don't selective antimicrobial drugs generate resistance? If so, a collective utilization of the drug would be impossible, right?

Sorry for my English (:

Originally Posted by Woland01

I agree. The original source of all the articles seems to be an article on cf.cl, but it gives no additional information.

I don't understand how would the molecule work; don't selective antimicrobial drugs generate resistance? If so, a collective utilization of the drug would be impossible, right?

Sorry for my English (:

Yeah I can't find the guy from Yale on the Yale staff directory.



Also, don't antibiotics have to be prescribed? I think dentists could totally use this new drug as a prescribed-only drug during days-long wait times in between procedures to slow dental decay.
Otherwise, bacteria will really make resistance in relatively short time. Does anyone else know how fast is the evolution of typical bacteria against certain antibiotics? I know in Laboratory where I used to work at, we had the wrong bacteria often times on our petri dishes.

Another thing to note is how selective is this drug. If it's gonna wipe out majority of bacteria in mouth, we could get yeast infection. Or anywhere in the intestine, it's a bad thing. And these are just to say that the drug itself doesn't cause cancer/etc. Human trials haven't commenced yet.

Lastly, would this even benefit P & G or Colgate? I mean if this is too efficient that will bring dental procedures to all time low, then these guys will put their own business in jeopardy once most bacteria is eradicated. Who would buy their multiple mouthwashes/tooth pastes anymore if you don't get cavity? I'de just buy one tooth paste and that would be it.
I'm sure ADA would not be overly enthusiastic to give accreditation to these products anymore either...
Just my few thoughts. Keep the discussion going please.