unfamilar topics Flashcards
what is dentistry
- focused on prevention, detection, management and treatment of oral and dental disease
- more to it than drilling and filling
- duties extend beyond patient care
what are your thoughts on an obesity tax
- many perspectives
- what about other diseases, more taxes? = slippery slope
- lifestyle choice and rights
which medical advancements over the last 10 years should receive a nobel prize
robotic assisted surgery
how has medicine improved over the last 50 years
key hole surgery
antibiotics
vaccination
what is the future of dentistry
understanding the interactions between oral health and general health
advances in technology and dental materials
social and economic development
eco-friendly?
why is epidemiology so important to you
- inverse care law - whose who most need dental care are the least likely to get it
- workforce expansion - future healthcare needs to be just as much about preventing disease as ensuring there is enough dental care professional to deliver certain forms of dentistry
digital dentistry?
intra oral scanners - 3d imaging - link to implants
as a graduate will be readily prepared to cope with the challenges of keeping up to date with the recent developments both scientific and technological
policy and politics
in areas such as health and safety, employment, decontamination and infection control are prevalent issues of importance for the government, leading to an increase in the need for a diverse skill set in the dental team
government is big on value for money, and so it is vital to ensure that health care is evidence based and appropriate to both the patient care and the value for money
what are your thoughts on dental tourism
- turkey teeth
- brings to the surface the issue of the cost of dentistry and the privatisation
- lack of education
- more issues
privatisation of dentistry
social elite are less focused on dental disease and more about cosmetic dentistry. healthcare has shifted from just being focused on disease.
nhs dentistry focuses primarily on the functionality of dentistry, whereas private care has a lot of focus on producing the most attractive results possible. they can be more flexible, and can take on more patients. the nhs is still dealing with the backlog of covid, so many are struggling to get care for their teeth and if they cant afford the private care they will do it themselves. however, there is the idea of over treating, where private practices look for profit and so may not offer the best options because they want you to get the more expensve treatment so you pay them more.
how has dentistry changed over the last 30 years
there has been many advances in treatments, practices, materials, techniques and technologies. greater emphasis on prevention rather than just going when the pain is too much. more people care about the cosmetic side. patients are more informed now. full patient history - move toward looking at the whole body rather than just the mouth. difference between oral health and dental health. education has improved, childsmile.
the smart filling
releases calcium and phosphate ions on contact with the acids from the bacteria that cause the decay. they help repair damage too
what are the biggest challenges facing dentistry today
the pandemic - the backlog caused by it. however there are some positves because if something were to happen like this again there would be more awareness and better procedures in place to prevent the spread.
increase in private healthcare.
cost of living crisis
cash strapped nhs
how does the nhs charge for dentistry
england has bands
amalgam debate
these fillings are 50% mercury, 35% silver and 15% tin, with some small amounts of zinc as well. dentists were using it 150 years ago. used to repair cavities.
over recent decades mercury has been associated with many negative health impacts, such as MS, alzheimers, kidney and brain damage. the fillings release small amounts of the mercury into the bloodstream and taken to the lungs and then the kidneys. however you could have like 15 fillings and the levels would be too low to cause harm. most research has found that there is no link between the fillings and health issues, unless people are allergic to mercury.
what are the alternatives to amalgam fillings
composite. polymer resin, aesthetic option. used to restore broken down infected or damaged teeth. more expensive though. amalgam lasts longer
how does smoking affect dental health
creates a lovely welcoming habitat to the bacteria that cause periodontal disease. it leads to dry mouth, and if you dont have the saliva to wash over your teeth, the bacteria build up and cause a whole host of issues.