Do Women Need More Dental Attention?

Growing evidence shows women may be significantly more susceptible to serious health consequences unless they maintain a tremendously vigilant home hygiene campaign against tooth decay and gum disease.

Piercing

Tongue and lip piercing is becoming more and more common these days. Among the unpleasant results of tongue piercing are pain, post-placement swelling, prolonged bleeding, gum injury, permanent numbness, loss of taste, oral hygiene problems, and broken teeth. As if that weren't bad enough, piercings can spread Hepatitis A, B, C, and HIV. Body piercers are not medical practitioners and are not regulated by any health agency. While using the human body as a canvas for "art" is as old as time, this is one variety that needs to fade into the past.

Tooth Decay

Fighting Cavities is Still the Dentist's Top Job...Yours Too!

Tooth decay, or dental caries, occurs when bacteria in the mouth colonize tooth surfaces. Metabolic waste products in the form of acids and enzymes cause the calcium in the teeth to be dissolved. The tooth surface is softened, allowing the bacteria to penetrate further into the tooth and the process is repeated.

If left unchecked, the dental infection can penetrate to the pulp of the tooth where it can cause pain and lead to infections of the surrounding bone. In rare cases, people have even died from untreated dental infections.

Tooth decay is preventable. Keeping the teeth free of bacteria by brushing and flossing, Removing the bacteria's food supply by reducing sugar intake, and hardening the teeth using fluoride treatment are all effective methods of protecting teeth from decay

Be a Dentist!

Dentistry is a very rewarding career. Dentists get to work directly with the general public, providing a necessary, if not always appreciated service. At one time, dental services were provided by barbers and self-taught entrepreneurs, but as the medical side of the practice has grown, so has the need for proper training.

Traits that are helpful for a good dentist include:

* A good eye for detail and spatial relations
* Good manual dexterity
* Broad math and science skills
* The ability to work independently

Dental Education consists of High School, a four year undergraduate degree, and good scores on the Dental Admissions Test(DAT)

Once your basic dental education is complete, you may want to pursue further study in one of the recognized dental specialties.

* Orthodontics
* Endodontics
* Pediatric Dentistry
* Periodontics
* Oral Surgery
* Oral Pathology
* Public Health

There are residencies available for general practitioners as well as advanced study in the areas of Implantology, Cosmetic Dentistry, and Holistic Dentistry.