Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
-
CycleTrack and SDN are teaming up to make medical school admissions more transparent and accessible! Read the announcement to learn how we’re supporting the future of CycleTrack’s free application-tracking tools .
Dentistry becoming TOO preventative?
Started by HenryH
Get help with your application
Use all the free resources available to you from SDN: articles, guides, expert advising, forums discussions, and school research.
I haven't even started dental school yet, but based on my experiences from shadowing, there will always be a patient base (for those financially "concerned") because of deleterious genes and neglect. Although advancements will continue to find new means of treatment and prevention, due to genes and hygene practices, I highly doubt we will ever see the end to caries.
Recent research has noted that exposure to certain strains of bacteria early in childhood has shown to affect how caries containing similar bacterial strains can have varying amounts of corrosive impact on different individuals - also genes ultimately determine how dense enamel and dentin are between individuals turn out to be. Some of these strains are necessary for our digestion/absorption, so I doubt we can ever innoculate every strain.
Not to mention, vanity appears to be a new driving force to dentistry where I've heard of patients getting monthly teeth whitenings (which makes me wonder about long term effects since hydrogen peroxide is such a strong oxidizer...).
From both sides of the spectrum, which ever way you look at it, there will always be patients to treat and care for, as well as patients to pad your 401K...
I plan on travelling overseas to provide care for underpriveleged and underdeveloped regions in the future, which is a population that will constantly need care and unlikely to access such preventative measures.
Recent research has noted that exposure to certain strains of bacteria early in childhood has shown to affect how caries containing similar bacterial strains can have varying amounts of corrosive impact on different individuals - also genes ultimately determine how dense enamel and dentin are between individuals turn out to be. Some of these strains are necessary for our digestion/absorption, so I doubt we can ever innoculate every strain.
Not to mention, vanity appears to be a new driving force to dentistry where I've heard of patients getting monthly teeth whitenings (which makes me wonder about long term effects since hydrogen peroxide is such a strong oxidizer...).
From both sides of the spectrum, which ever way you look at it, there will always be patients to treat and care for, as well as patients to pad your 401K...
I plan on travelling overseas to provide care for underpriveleged and underdeveloped regions in the future, which is a population that will constantly need care and unlikely to access such preventative measures.
s
until invisalign is improved for more than class 1/cosmetic cases or CADCAM takes off that is.
until invisalign is improved for more than class 1/cosmetic cases or CADCAM takes off that is.
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
I'm probably going to catch hell for reviving this thread, but I found an interesting piece of "news." This company -- Planet Biotechnology -- is currently conduction Phase II clinical trials of a new caries vaccine. According to the biotech. firm, the vaccine has demonstrated the ability to eliminate disease-causing bacteria (Streptococcus mutans) for up to two years.
The company plans to sell this thing to dentists, public health offices, etc. within three years.
http://www.planetbiotechnology.com/products.html#carorx
By the way -- other sites have stated that it will cost less than $100.
What do you guys think? Medical advancements are great, but could this seriously limit the future scope-of-practice for dentists?
The company plans to sell this thing to dentists, public health offices, etc. within three years.
http://www.planetbiotechnology.com/products.html#carorx
By the way -- other sites have stated that it will cost less than $100.
What do you guys think? Medical advancements are great, but could this seriously limit the future scope-of-practice for dentists?
Not sure how you're reading the article, but this doesn't look like a vaccine to me. It looks like they've developed an antibody to dextransucrase or possibly dextran itself and are dispensing it in some sort of mouthwash.
The article mentions that the displacement of strep lasts for about 6-12 months, just in time for you to deliver another dosage on the next treatment date. While this sounds like great news for preventative care, it doesn't seem like it will really affect too many bottom lines. The people coming in with caries aren't the people who are showing up every 6 months for prophies.
The article mentions that the displacement of strep lasts for about 6-12 months, just in time for you to deliver another dosage on the next treatment date. While this sounds like great news for preventative care, it doesn't seem like it will really affect too many bottom lines. The people coming in with caries aren't the people who are showing up every 6 months for prophies.
That's how I read it--and did you notice the part about requiring multiple treatment sessions in a couple weeks' time to be effective? Good luck getting most people to come 4 times every six months when there's not anything wrong.
Geriatric dentistry will keep us busy. Tooth as a human tissue will suffer aging and wear and tear and people will need us regardless.
Question...
WOuldn't you think that caries are in fact impossible to vaccinate for just knowing how they work? They are bacteria that live in the oral cavity and they start to "eat" teeth when they are cut off from oxygen. The caries in the aerobic stage do not harm teeth. So...how does your internal immunological response deal with a foreign substance releasing acidic byproducts?? Solve that one...and you have the cure. I am pretty sure that there will never be a "one shot" solution...it is not really an internal infection...it's more like athletes foot.
anywho...correct me if I'm wrong but I think we are looking at some pretty good job security.
WOuldn't you think that caries are in fact impossible to vaccinate for just knowing how they work? They are bacteria that live in the oral cavity and they start to "eat" teeth when they are cut off from oxygen. The caries in the aerobic stage do not harm teeth. So...how does your internal immunological response deal with a foreign substance releasing acidic byproducts?? Solve that one...and you have the cure. I am pretty sure that there will never be a "one shot" solution...it is not really an internal infection...it's more like athletes foot.
anywho...correct me if I'm wrong but I think we are looking at some pretty good job security.
Er...I hate to risk curbing your enthusiasm, but that's not how the process occurs at all. 🙂 Try doing a Google for "cariology" (not a typo, there's no d) and see if that helps any.
It sounds like he has the basic idea down. Strep adheres to the tooth in a biofilm "plaque", goes anaerobic and starts crapping out lactic acid.
What this dude doesn't get is that there are multiple steps in that process where you can throw a wrench in the works, at least theoretically.
The crazy thing is that saliva is responsible for the formation of the biofilm in the first place but also acts as a caries deterant and acidic neutralizer (buffer) to prevent carious lesions. How does everyone feel about the likelyhood of lesion remineralization? I sort of believe that it is unlikely at this point in my education.
It's all a matter of when you catch the lesion. In the most technical sense, incipient histologic enamel caries occurs every time you eat, but your body arrests the process and begins remineralizing the damaged hard tissue starting about 30 minutes after you finish. Incipient caries can frequently be reversed and remineralized through various combinations of fluoride, sealants, behavior modification (i.e. teaching a motivated patient how to take care of things properly at home). Once you reach the DEJ or get a frank cavitation, though, it's a problem that has to be treated invasively (i.e. restorative procedure).
Where do I start ...
Anywhere you're so inclined. 😉
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
