TEETH AREN'T PEARLY, UNTIL YOU SMILE

Dentist- A qualified person to practice dentistry.

WHAT IS DENTISTRY?

Dentistry is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of conditions, disorders, and diseases of the teeth, gums, mouth, and jaw. A very full “Filling” profession.

What should I look for when choosing the right dentist for me?

Choosing a dentist for you or your family is important, and you may wish to consider several dentists before making your final decision. During your first visit, you should be able to determine whether the dentist is right for you, such a dedication might compel them to use anesthetic next time.

During your appointment, consider the following:

· Is the appointment schedule convenient?

· Is the office easy to get to and close by?

· Does the office appear to be clean and orderly?

· Was the medical and dental history recorded?

· Does the dentist explain techniques for good oral health?

· Is information about the cost presented to you before treatment is scheduled?

· Is your dentist a registered doctor?

· Does my toothpaste have salt in it?

TRIVIA-

Toothache? kiss a donkey- Before modern dentistry, reliable treatments for toothaches were few and far between. Every country had its old wives tales about dubious home remedies, but the strangest has to go to Germany in the middle ages, where one legend claimed that kissing a donkey would bring relief. Maybe if they kicked the offending tooth out. And that’s why the creature was renamed Ass.

The Donkey who started this rumor is still at large.

Need dental work? Go to the barber-Moving away from legends into the real story, if you wanted dental work done before the 19th century, your best bet was to visit the barber. The earliest ‘Dentists’ were in fact barber-surgeons, whose expertise with cutting tools made them the most qualified professionals to perform extractions and other basic procedures. They could even produce dentures out of animal bones.

Wisdom teeth or “love teeth”?- if you are wondering are called ‘wisdom teeth’ in English, this is actually a mistranslation. The Dutch term ‘verstandskiezen’ that simply describes their position in the back of the mouth, was a confusing word for ‘wise’(‘verstand’).

Other countries have their own terms and ideas for wisdom teeth. In Korea, they are known as ‘love teeth’(‘sarangnee’) because they grow in early adulthood and are often accompanied by the first experiences of love and heartbreak.

Where do you throw your milk teeth?- when you were a child, did you put your milk teeth under the pillow for the tooth fairy? In many Asian countries, milk teeth are thrown – into the air if they were upper teeth, down to the ground for lower teeth.

In turkey, children traditionally throw their teeth onto the roof. In Italy and across Latin America, children are told stories about the tooth mouse.

Crowded teeth are often considered attractive in japan- Not Every culture prizes straight and pearly white teeth. In 2011, the New York Times reported on a trend of Japanese women visiting their dentists to make their straight teeth more crowded. The ‘yaeba’(‘double tooth’) look is considered cute by many people in the country, despite the problems crowded teeth can cause for oral health.

This is not the first time Japanese preferences for smiles have favored the unusual. In medieval Japan, black teeth were considered attractive, leading to many women staining their teeth with ink.

‘Bluetooth’ was a Danish king- Bluetooth is the English translation of ‘Blatand’ the nickname given to a king in 10th century Denmark who supposedly ate blueberries so often that they stained his teeth blue. Also, he pretended to talk to his earing while ignoring people in his company to show he is more important than everyone else. His dentists hated him for that.

Painting of him acting smug

While this story probably is not true his achievements unifying kingdoms are, and Bluetooth wireless technology was named in his honor. The famous Bluetooth logo features his initials in rune form.

Are you a redhead?- You may need more anesthetic- Does the color of your hair really affect how sensitive you are to pain? Apparently so, according to a 2002 study at the University of Louisville in Kentucky, USA. The researcher found that, on average, women with ginger hair required 20 percent more anesthesia to numb pain during dental treatments compared to women with other hair colors. So make sure your dentist takes note, but if he offers teeth whitener for skin….. RUN.

Brad Pitt chipped his teeth on purpose for ‘Fight club’- Brad Pitt known for his dedication to roles, but he went even further when he took on the part of the violent Tyler Durden in 1999,s Fight club.

Entertainment Weekly reported at the time that the actor asked his dentist to chip his teeth, as he felt it would add credibility to his performance. His Hollywood smile was restored as soon as filming wrapped with a pint of DNA from Great White Shark.

Dr. Adarshika

(orthodontist)