February was National Pet Dental Health Month

Did you forget? You may not know that gum disease (periodontitis) can affect your pet. Many veterinary dentists recommend a full examination of the mouth when a pet is spayed or neutered. This is a great time to do the dental exam because the patient is already anesthetized. Dental xrays are also indicated and may reveal tumors of the jaw bones or other pathologies.

Dentists in the Media

A dental cartoon with the caption "The last moments of Dr. Steven Puckett, D.D.S." appears in the February 23 edition of The New Yorker Magazine. The cartoon is a picture of a dentist who while being confronted by a shark says, "Hmm .. crowding, gum recession, and a high lip line." I laughed out loud! As a dentist, I can't help myself from evaluating people's dentition when they dare bare their teeth. Here the dentist in the cartoon is appraising the shark's teeth as he is about to be devoured. I love it!

Dental cartoons typically make disparaging comments about dentists and focus on the “p” word (i.e. pain). This bothers me as it reinforces people's fears and may encourage them to avoid proper dental care. Dentists are often the butt of comedians and situation comedies. Who can forget "The Little House of Horrors" or "The Marathon Man"?

I also read this week that Nickelodeon will introduce “Glenn Martin DDS” - an animated series about the dysfunctional family of an eccentric dentist.” I kid you not. Uh, oh … can’t wait to see this one!

"A Nation of People with Bad Teeth"

In 1940 the author George Orwell called the British, "A nation of people with bad teeth." Sugery tea may have been the culprit but today tooth decay among 12 year olds in England is among the lowest in Europe. But a survey this month of English dental patients and dentists showed that the British have a predilection for do-it-yourself dentistry. Six percent of English patients admitted to self-treatment. One took out 14 of his teeth with pliers and another used Super Glue to re-cement a crown. This self-treatment may be a result of a shortage of dentists offering dental services through the National Health Service – and the long wait time to get an appointment.

Whitening your Teeth at the mall?

Have you noticed those teeth whitening kiosks at the mall? These kiosks are manned by unlicensed individuals who are hired by "tooth whitening companies." These salespeople take a weekend training session and then go out to the mall to sell white teeth. This is a big problem. Whitening teeth is a dental procedure and it requires knowledge to recognize when whitening is appropriate for a given patient. Before whitening teeth, a dental practitioner needs to recognize gum disease, decay, stained fillings, and other oral conditions. Dentists go to dental school, to dental residencies, and take long hours of continuing education in order to be proficient in their field.

The State of Tennessee has taken the lead in requiring whitening treatments to be performed only by licensed dentists, dental hygienists, or registered dental assistants supervised by a dentist. The unanimous ruling was recently handed down by the Tennessee Board of Dentistry because of complaints to the state about the kiosks. The board oversees and regulates dental safety issues in the state. For our public’s safety, lets hope that New York State will follow the standards set by Tennessee and outlaw the illegal practice of dentistry in the state’s malls!