American Health Care System

by

A BBC One’s Panorama, a TV documentary show, took on the dismal state of health care in the U.S. back in January 2009 (so it is a bit dated now).  Nick Cargo. BBC documentary takes on Obama’s plans for American health care system. January 25, 2009. http://rawstory.com/news/2008/BBC_documentary_takes_on_Obamas_plans_0125.html The documentary takes on the (now) 50.7 million uninsured citizens and the length they will go for healthcare, the..”pharmaceutical industry’s rigged pricing against the American patient, and the insurance industry’s efforts to deny care whenever possible.” Due to licensing restrictions the episode is only available for viewing by those who live in the U.K., however, it has been posted online. I have embedded the first of the three parts on YouTube below. The documentary opens up in rural Kentucy and shows many who have driven long distances in the middle of the night … Read more

Dental Care in Japan

by

I found an interesting piece by Kevin Rafferty in The Japan Times Online from June 15, 2011, titled “A dentist need not be a masked demon.” The article is located here http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/eo20110615a1.html The article gives an inside look into recent developments in dentistry with a particular focus on Japan but the principals and message apply globally. The main focus on the article centers around a report soon to be published in both English and Japanese titled “Guideline for treating caries following a minimal intervention policy, an evidence and consensus based study.” The report was conducted by Mikako Hayashi of Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry and her committee in which 18 months was spent conducting research. Some notabled quotes from the article by Kevin Rafferty include “Recent advances in dentistry include recognition that teeth, if properly treated, regularly cleaned and … Read more

The Lack of Importance of Research in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Programs

by

A current article in press 2011 (at the time of this writing) will appear in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The article is titled Attitudes and Opinions of Residency Directors and Residents About the Importance of Research in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residences by Ali E. Mohammad, Al M. Best, and Daniel M. Laskin. The conclusion of the article is quite grim The failure of all residency programs to provide actual research experience for their trainees has resulted in a decrease in the contributions that such programs have traditionally made to the literature and the advancement of the speciality. It is important that steps be taken to reverse this trend. The article describes a study that was conducted to determine the research status done by residents in oral and maxillofacial surgery training programs.  A questionnaire was developed for … Read more

Omega 3 Fatty Acids Inversely Proportional to Periodontitis

by

Periodontitis (periodontal disease)  is a inflammatory disease which is caused by bacteria accumulating at the gum line. This can cause bone loss. Periodontal disease possibly occurring later in life in the wisdom tooth region is commonly a reason given by dentists and oral surgeons to remove healthy wisdom teeth. However, based on current literature understanding and assestment, wisdom teeth should not be removed if they are healthy due to a risk of periodontal disease. If periodontal disease were to later occur, then a conservative approach should be followed. This is discussed in more details on the wisdom teeth controversy page. A study that was published in 2010, looked at data from 9,182 adults ages 20 and older and met certain criteria from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) study between the years 1999 and 2004. Periodontal examinations were … Read more

Recent Developments of the iPad in Digital Dentistry

by

This post is a guest post by Robert Milton. He blogs for Austin Dental Center, an Austin dentist, who specializes in mercury-free fillings and dental implants. Dr. Jonathan L. Ferencz In the fall of 2010, Apple, Inc., featured Dr. Jonathan L. Ferencz’s prosthodontics practice in one of its iPad in Business profiles, touting the numerous applications of the iPad in digital dentistry. In compelling detail, the profile outlined how Dr. Ferencz’s patients not only used the Adobe Ideas app to complete their intake forms electronically, but also engaged in leisure activities like checking email and surfing the Internet while in the waiting room. The profile also described Dr. Ferencz’s use of the iPad to display photographs and x-rays to patients during consultations, emphasizing the device’s high resolution and zooming features. And yet, Dr. Ferencz was by no means the first … Read more