Post on 29-Nov-2014
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Sammi Urban
Mrs. Corbett
Period 7 AP Lit/Comp
11/17/11
Advancement of Dentistry
Development in the field of dental hygiene has greatly improved and evolution of
the dental profession has conquered new heights since the 18th
century. The ADA defines
dentistry as “the evaluation, diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment (nonsurgical, surgical
or related procedures) of disease, disorders and/or conditions of the oral cavity,
maxillofacial area and/or the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the
human body” (“ADA Definition of Dentistry”). In the world of dentistry today there have
been many innovations with advancements in ethnic diversities, inventions, dental health,
and oral disorders and diseases.
The dental industry has broadened their acceptance for females in the work place.
Before the 1860’s there were not any liscenced female dentists, but today, according to
the ADA Survey Center, 83% of dentists are males and 17% are female in the United
States. “In time, she came to be known by what sounded like a translated Native
American name – ‘the woman who pulls teeth’” (Roberts). Lucy Hobbs Taylor also
known as “the woman who pulls teeth,” was the first liscenced female dentist, and she
earned her degree in 1866. Dr. Taylor paved the way for advances in the equality for
woman and made it possible for woman to establish a successful dental practice. “At this
time Gray became the first Black woman in America to earn a Doctor of Dental Surgery
Degree. She returned to Cincinnati where she established a very successful private
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practice” (“Ida Gray Nelson”). In 1890, Gray was the first Black African American to
become a dentist, and even a woman. This was a great achievement by both the African
American and female community alike. “As the 2000 census demonstrates, the U.S. is
becoming increasingly ethnically and racially diverse. Over time the U.S. has both
successfully and unsuccessfully navigated excepting the differing cultures, religions,
ethnicities, and values within its society” (“Cultural Competency Curricular”). Achieving
ethnic and racial diversities is a very important advancement compared the modern 19th
century and earlier societies. With the conforming society brings about more ideas and
great minds working together to create a much more advanced dental network. This vast
range of ethnicities and people brings about great minds thinking together to create new
inventions for the future.
New inventions have evolved and advanced dentistry into a new era. One new
invention of the 20th century is teeth whitening systems, which help cover up stains and
provide a brighter healthier looking smile. “Dentists are advising to stay away from all
those things that spoil our white teeth. ‘Dentists’ call them chromogenic agents, and they
include medications (especially tetracycline), coffee, tea, tobacco (smoking or chewing)
and red wine” (Marples). There are at home whitening systems such as crest white strips,
but whitening can also be done professionally at the dentist office and have the
BriteSmile Professionally Teeth Whitening treatment which provides a brighter longer
lasting whitening treatment. Another cosmetic dental invention includes braces; “in 1997,
Chishti and Wirth applied 3-D computer imaging graphics to the field of orthodontics and
created Align Technologies and the Invisalining method” (Der Zahnbrecher von Gerard
Honthorst). Before the 1990’s braces were metal brackets that were glued onto one’s
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teeth, and even though that method is still used today, Invisaline is much more desirable.
After its name, Invisaline is just a clear plastic container that fits over the teeth and is
hardly noticed making a great invention for a smoother transition into a straighter smile.
“Ultrasonic dental cleaning is now being used to remove dental tartar faster and more
thoroughly, without the uncomfortable scraping associated with a deep cleaning” (Lynn).
This new instrument called the Cavitron makes for a much more conferrable and
effective cleaning; it flushes away dental plaque and tartar built up around the gum line.
The Cavitron is very beneficial to both dentists as well as patients, giving the patient the
incentive to be more willing to getting their teeth cleaned. “In 1896 American dentist
Charles Edmund Kells introduced X-ray technology in dentistry and thereby ushered in
an era of accurate diagnosis of dental ailments” (“dentistry”). X-rays in dentistry provide
for a more accurate and deeper looking into the teeth to diagnose and treat a wider variety
of conditions such as: hidden tooth decay; tooth abscess, cyst or tumor, extra teeth, as
well as conditions of dental fillings, tooth crowns, dental bridges and root canals. X-rays
are probably one of the most vital and important inventions to date in dentistry; pretty
much every time a patient goes in for a check up they need one. This shows the great
advancements that the X-ray provides for the dentist to make more accurate decisions.
With the help of all these inventions advancements in dental hygiene have also been
made.
Much advancement has been made in the respects of maintaining happy, healthy
looking teeth. “Taking good care of one’s teeth is one of the smartest investments a
person can make in their health, helping to ensure that the teeth will remain strong,
healthy, and white for a life time (“UXL Complete Health Resource” p.43). Up until the
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20th
century there was little attention put on patients to maintaining a healthy oral
lifestyle. Today, dentists have perfected the techniques in how to keep cleanly smile and
dental health; dentists recommend brushing at least two times a day and flossing
everyday. By doing this, it will keep not only the visual aspects of the teeth and mouth
looking healthy, but as well as preventing the body from getting infected from bacteria
entering through the mouth, cavities, and tooth decay. “Following years of research,
McKay and others were able to show that ‘total absence of decay’ was due to the
presence in the drinking water of high amounts of naturally occurring fluoride, which
protects the teeth for decay” (“dentistry”). Based on the research on the benefits of
fluoride, dentists have made advancements in the attempt of preventing tooth decay.
Since dentists started using fluoridation, fluoride treatments, on patients, dental cavities
in children have decreased by more than 50 percent. Although, even with pristine dental
health there are some dental problems that can be prevented, and in other cases cannot be
prevented.
There are many different types of diseases and disorders that can form in the
mouth. One very common disorder is Enamel Hypoplasia, and there are different types
of treatment options, but it depends on the severity of the particular tooth and the
symptoms allied with it. One of the most traditional treatments is bonding a tooth colored
material to the tooth which protects it from further wear and sensitivity” (“Enamel
Hypoplasia: Causes”). Enamel Hypoplasia is a condition that discolors the tooth as well
as thins the enamel on the tooth causing it to become very sensitive and break down.
Dentists have made advancements in creating toothpastes to help with this condition that
help rebuild and conserve enamel on the tooth, as well as whitening procedures to help
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reduce the visible aspects of discoloration caused by Enamel Hypoplasia. Another
common disease that dentists see is Gingivitis. “Gingivitis is a form of periodontal
disease. Periodontal disease involves inflammation and infection that destroys the tissues
that support the teeth, including the gums, the periodontal ligaments, and the tooth
sockets (alveolar bone)” (Rosenberg and Zieve). This disease is caused by poor dental
hygiene, and dentists have made much advancement in preventing this disease by
educating patients on how to better take care of their teeth. In earlier years, teeth would
rot away from poor dental hygiene, but with improvements in knowledge as well as
technological innovations about Gingivitis, it is now possible as well as simple to cure
this disease. With the discovery of fluoride treatments helping prevent tooth decay,
gingivitis is much less common as well as many other oral diseases such as cavities.
There is no way to “cure” a cavity, but to suppress the painful irritations caused by them,
fillings are required. Research has advanced the cavity filling techniques and has made
the process of filling a cavity much less painful and time consuming. Dental amalgam is
one of the newest and most commonly used filling technique and it is a “self-hardening
mixture of silver-tin-copper alloy power and liquid mercury. It is often used as a filling
material and replacement for broken teeth (“Dental Fillings”). With advancements in
filling techniques the cavities hold on better to the teeth as well as don’t break down and
last longer. Cavities are a big problem, but with the help of dentists educating patients
more, it is helping to prevent from peopling developing this disease.
The practice of dentistry has existed from thousands of years. It has evolved into a
very technologically advanced career. New discoveries such as fluoride treatment,
whitening, fillings, x-rays, common dental hygiene, as well as advancement in the field
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of broadening the ethnical acceptance into the practice. Within the last 150 years is where
the most activity regarding inventions and research has taken place in the United States.
The development of the scientific foundation has evolved in the latter part of the 19th
century driven by experiments to discover and invent new techniques as well as
inventions. The 20th
and 21st century is known as the empirical scientific evolution of
America’s dental advancements. The most common advancements include acceptance in
ethnic diversities starting in the 19th
century. Inventions to assist in improving dental
health as well as to cure oral disorders and diseases.
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Work Cited
“ADA Definition of Dentistry.” American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial
Surgeons. American Dental Association House of Delegates, 2 June 2003. Web.
16 Nov. 2011. <http://www.centreoms.com/admin/storage/news/
ADA%20Definition%20of%20OMS%20and%20Dentisry.pdf>.
“Cultural Competency Curricular Guidelines For Medical and/or Dental Schools.”
ADDM. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2011. <http://www.amsafoundation.org/pdf/
CulturalCompCurriculum.pdf>.
“Dental Fillings.” Mama’s Health. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2011.
<http://www.mamashealth.com/dental/cfillings.asp>.
“dentistry.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica Online School Edition.
Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2011.Web.17Oct.2011.
<http://www.school.eb.com/eb/article-274273>.
Der Zahnbrecher von Gerard Honthorst. “A Brief History of Braces.” Archwired. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2011. <http://www.archwired.com/HistoryofOrtho.htm>.
“Enamal Hypoplasia: Causes and Treatment Options.” uiowa.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 16
Nov. 2011. <http://www.uiowa.edu/~c090247/ENAMEL_HYPOPLASIA.pdf>.
“The Gender Shift, the demographics of women in dentistry. What impact will it have?”
In A Spirit of Caring. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2011.
<http://www.spiritofcaring.com/public/488.cfm>.
“Ida Gray Nelson, a First in Black Dentistry!” African American Registry. N.p., n.d.
Web. 16 Nov. 2011. <http://www.aaregistry.org/historic_events/view/ida-gray-
nelson-first-black-dentistry>.
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Lynn, Margot. “10 New Technologies That Are Changing Dentistry.” SooperArticles.
N.p., 2 Feb. 2010. Web. 16 Nov. 2011. <http://www.sooperarticles.com/health-
fitness-articles/dental-care-articles/10-new-technologies-changing-dentistry-
38691.html>.
Marples, Gareth. “The History of Teeth Whitening – Smiles Through the Miles.”
TheHistoryOf.net. N.p., 11 Sept. 2008. Web. 16 Nov. 2011.
<http://www.thehistoryof.net/the-history-of-teeth-whitening.html>.
Roberts, Tod. “Lucy Hobbs Taylor, First 1833-1910: A Lawrence Kansas Pioneer in the
History of Women in Dentistry.” Watkins Community Museum. Douglas County
Historical Society, 6 May 2009. Web. 16 Nov. 2011. <http://home.comcast.net/
~thorsdag/LucyHobbsTaylor.html>.
Rosenberg, Jack D, and David Zieve. “Gingivitis.” PubMed Health. N.p., 22 Feb. 2010.
Web. 16 Nov. 2011. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/
PMH0002051/>.
UXL Complete Health Resource. Ed. Caroline M. Levchuck, Allison McNeill, Rob
Nagel, David Newton, Betz Des Chenes, Michele Drohan, et al. Vol. 3: Vol.1:
U*X*L Complete Health Resource Healthy Living. Detroit: UXL, 2001. p31-56.