Physics in dentistry?

[MuskieMan33]

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Hey everyone,
I am doing a paper for my physics class and how it can relate to my career path. I know that physics isn't on the DAT, but Dschools still require 2 semesters of physics. I do see the sense in it, as far as problem solving techniques and critical thinking are concerned.

My question is, "How does physics play a role in dentistry/biology?"
I have looked around for some information, and have been somewhat successful in my search. I have came across biophysics, which I can elaborate a little on in the paper. Also relate how work is done during a chemical reaction within the body(or lab). Something else I could touch on is how a cell must produce force in order to move, grow, and survive. I came across a tool called the Physics Forceps also; which is an extraction tool used in place of standard forceps, using leverage to extract a tooth (pretty neat I thought).

I feel like I've got a start, but not near enough information on anything to type a respectable paper. I'm going to get to the library tonight to use the research databases at my university, but I was wondering if anyone had any other Ideas about how I could incorporate physics into my field of study - Dentistry, Biology, and possibly Chemistry. Id like to stick to dental and biology though. Thanks in advance for any ideas, and sorry for the long post!

 

[Jackson-Ave-Dental]

Physics is everywhere in dentistry actually! I'm quite surprised that its not required at all schools...

Restoring an implant crown is a great example. Where you would want the occlusion to be on an implant crown is different than on a regular crown. The reasoning behind this has to do with physics/biology actually!

Why?
I'll let you do a little bit of research to figure that out 😉

Of course, this is just one of many many examples.

 

[flyingforever]

You need to know Physics to understand radiology stuff 😀

 

[Dgeorg6]

All of the dentists whom I have shadowed said that Dentistry is kind of like engineering and physics.. Because you are re making a persons teeth and smile. I didn't really ask any questions about it but they all have said if you like physics you will love dentistry.. and when i say "all" i mean 2 dentists. But still lol.

 

[dantemac]

Masticatory stress on every cusp and ridge.

 

[youknowthedrill]

Lots of physics in dentistry. Orthodontists use torque to align teeth. X-rays. Oral surgery instruments- and they don't have to have "physics" in the name. Lasers.

 

[MuskieMan33]

These are great ideas! I appreciate the input everyone!

I'm still going to be looking for ways to relate definite examples to what we have covered in class. Some of this stuff is hard to look up online, even on the schools databases of journals and articles.

And I know they don't have to have physics in the name, I'm glad I saw it though, because then I realized that almost every instrument can be related to physics in some way. lol. It got my mind going though.

 

[GrendizerDDS]

More like physucks!

 

[SeattleRDH]

You can research the physics of dental materials. Tensile strength vs. Compressive strength. Why do we use gold & amalgam? Why does the porcelain need to be fused to metal in crowns? How did physics play a role in the development of posterior composite material? There's a lot of chemistry there but physics and chemistry go hand-in-hand.

If you go the xray route talk about optics and imaging. You can't interpret a pano without some understanding of the physics. In bitewings if an object shows up and you want to know if it is on the buccal or lingual of the teeth you use the SLOB rule. Angle the xray head in one direction. If the object moves toward the xray head it is lingual, if it moves away it is buccal. Same Lingual Opposite Buccal SLOB.

 

[yappy]

Physics in biological systems = thermodynamics

 

[nboogie]

More like physucks!

👍👍

 

[Stacker]

You'll use tools that rely on principles of levers and torsions.