Family Dentist Research Articles

Orthodontic Seminar: A Realistic Approach Minimizing the future problem*

The role of the family dentist in the utilization of preventive orthodontics to intercept potential problems in the areas of serial extractions, buccal cross-bites and thumb sucking habits is discussed.

Patient motivation and response to surgical correction of prognathism

A postoperative survey was conducted to evaluate the motivation and subjective response of twenty-five patients following surgical correction of prognathism. The results indicate that, in this group, the majority were referred by their family dentists. The major reason for seeking the operation was esthetics. Almost all patients stated that their expectations were fulfilled.

The extent of the relationship of dental care and dental status to social class

Interviews and dental inspection were conducted ina random sample of 300 adults from a city and the surrounding rural districts. Having a family dentist who had been seen during the two years preceding the interview, was ten times less common in the lowest of three social classes than in the higher. None or only one daily toothbrushing is reported five times more frequently in the lowest social class than in the upper class, and complete dentures are five times more frequent in the lowest class. On the other hand, partial dentures are found twice as frequently in the upper class than in the middle or lower classes, indicating more differentiated services by the dentists.

The thumb-sucking habit: Meaningful or empty?

1. 1. It is important to be patient with and tolerant toward the thumb-sucking child. If we understand his desire for security, even at the risk of failing to correct thumb-sucking, we may gain something even more important—the development of an emotionally secure, well-balanced person who will pass on understanding and love. 2. 2. Thumb-sucking is a normal phenomenon for the first 2 years of an infant's life. During this period it should not be discouraged. 3. 3. It is impossible to establish one correct time when corrective procedures should be started. Generally speaking, if thumb-sucking continues after the child is 3 1 2 years of age, orthodontic treatment can be undertaken. 4. 4. Before corrective procedures are initiated, it is important to determine whether the thumb-sucking is a meaningful or an empty habit. Communication with the patient by the parents, the family dentist, the pediatrician, and the family physician is essential. Consultation with a psychiatrist also may be indicated. 5. 5. A meaningful habit is a psychological problem and must be treated as such. An empty habit can and should be treated by a dentist from the dental approach, that is, with a habit reminder. 6. 6. The function of a habit reminder is to assist the patient who wants to be helped. A habit reminder cannot break the habit by itself without the patient's cooperation and sincere desire to discontinue sucking his thumb. 7. 7. Fixed or removable habit-reminder appliances in the mouth, if allowed to remain too long, may inhibit normal growth and development of the dental arches. 8. 8. Criticism of a thumb-sucker by his playmates sometimes can be most effective. 9. 9. It is the moral obligation and responsibility of every dentist to become knowledgeable concerning the thumb-sucking problem so that he can recognize what needs to be done. 10. 10. One should condemn the thumb-sucking habit, not the child.

The Science and Art of Inhibiting Caries in Adolescents Via Personalized Nutritional Counseling

1. The dentist must feel that nutrition counseling service for caries control is a practical, objective, meaningful, dental service like any other restorative procedure and deserves reserved time and a special space in the office. 2. A fee must be charged for this service because it has value for the patient and requires the professional knowledge, skill, and time of the dentist, dental hygienist, or nutritionist. 3. Sucrose, not starch nor carbohydrates in general, is the major nutrient factor responsible for initiating and spreading dental caries. 4. The between-meal eating of retentive sweets is really the exciting factor but cannot be completely deleted from the patient’s dietary practice without some understanding of “why” this type of oral gratification is necessary to the patient. 5. The caries resistance of the tooth can be improved not only by fluorides but probably also by phosphates and protein-rich foods such as fish, meat, and milk products. 6. The physical nature of the diet is also a very important consideration, because a firm detergent diet will increase salivary flow and thus promote oral clearance of food and even help in the buffering of acids formed in dental plaque. 7. The food habits and attitudes of adolescents may be bizarre but must be appreciated and dealt with on an individual basis. As a third party (between parent and child), the family dentist can exert a great deal of influence on the patient to accept constructive changes more readily. 8. The most cooperative patients are those who, with proper guidance, prescribe their own diet based on their likes and their life situation. They are motivated to self-help by us because we attempt to understand them and their problems and thus relate to them sometimes better than members of their own family or their peers. 9. The follow-up visit and frequent references to the subject of diet at subsequent dental visits will serve to reinforce this nutritional counseling service. 10. There are some data that state that nutritional supervision can reduce caries by 50 per cent.27 A step-by-step procedure such as is outlined here should provide about this amount of protection against caries recurrence for your patients.

THE FAMILY DENTIST

Australian Dental JournalVolume 10, Issue 4 p. 328-328 THE FAMILY DENTIST W. Wylde, Corresponding Author W. Wylde1235 Stafford Road, Stafford, Brisbane.Search for more papers by this author W. Wylde, Corresponding Author W. Wylde1235 Stafford Road, Stafford, Brisbane.Search for more papers by this author First published: August 1965 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1834-7819.1965.tb01655.xAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume10, Issue4August 1965Pages 328-328 RelatedInformation

THE FAMILY DENTIST

Australian Dental JournalVolume 10, Issue 2 p. 172-172 THE FAMILY DENTIST T. Seward, Corresponding Author T. Seward81 Collins Street, Melbourne, C.1Search for more papers by this author T. Seward, Corresponding Author T. Seward81 Collins Street, Melbourne, C.1Search for more papers by this author First published: April 1965 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1834-7819.1965.tb02699.xAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume10, Issue2April 1965Pages 172-172 RelatedInformation

Time: The Critical Element in Interceptive Orthodontics

One of the objectives of dental service for children is the supervision of the growth and development of the child's teeth and jaws. With the present organization and consolidation of knowledge of dentition development, it is now possible, as never before, for the family dentist to fulfill this objective. It has been pointed out here that the dentition grows in “spurts,” periods of acceleration and considerable activity followed by periods of quiescence and consolidation. Periods of intense activity are times when deviations in the normal developmental pattern may occur and are the optimum periods for intercepting the wayward dentitional pattern. Alternate periods of quiescence are times when vigilance may be relaxed, except to be sure that oral health is maintained, cavities are treated and the arch length does not shorten. The family dentist who has a good working knowledge of the normal pattern of development of the child's dentition, who is alert for deviations from this pattern, especially during critical times, and who treats, or refers for treatment, any minor abnormality at the optimum time, is going to provide an immeasurably valuable service for his child dental patients.

THE FAMILY DENTIST

Australian Dental JournalVolume 9, Issue 3 p. 221-222 THE FAMILY DENTIST T. Seward, Corresponding Author T. Seward181 Collins Street, Melbourne, C.1Search for more papers by this author T. Seward, Corresponding Author T. Seward181 Collins Street, Melbourne, C.1Search for more papers by this author First published: June 1964 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1834-7819.1964.tb05742.xAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume9, Issue3June 1964Pages 221-222 RelatedInformation

THE ALCOHOLIC PSYCHOSIS

THE ALCOHOLIC PSYCHOSIS Affiliation John R. Philp CopyRight https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.51.7.1082-b Published Online: August 29, 2011

Clinical appraisal of cleft palate rehabilitation problems

The Northwestern University Cleft Lip and Palate Institute has adopted a modification of the classification system of Veau, the new system listing four major types of clefts plus a subgroup of unusual types. Rehabilitation of the patient with a cleft involves the correction of problems relating to speech defects, deformities in appearance, feeding, chronic otological conditions and upper respiratory infections. The solution usually requires the cooperation of all members of the cleft palate team, including the family dentist.

A Concept, a Diagnosis and a Discipline

As guardian of the occlusion, the general practitioner assumes especial responsibilities concerning the young patient. It is his duty to direct the destinies of the developing dentition. In order to do so, he must at all times have an intimate appreciation of the dento-facial complex of the patient. This is acquired from a dento-facial analysis, which should be completed as early as possible, and from continuing observations at subsequent visits. While this requires specialized knowledge, it is knowledge he must have. The occlusional aspects of the dento-facial analysis may be readily gained in the classroom. The esthetic aspects, of increasing importance, are less easily subjected to rules or measurements. They depend largely upon the development of a concept of facial harmony and balance. This concept must be developed in the dental school. The dento-facial analysis results in a diagnosis which then permits the orderly application of knowledge. The general practitioner should keep the parents informed as to future orthodontic needs of their children. This invites their greater interest in dental health and enhances their appreciation of the scope of his services. It is suggested that greater meaning may be imparted if orthodontic therapy is divided into preventive, interceptive and corrective measures. Preventive orthodontics pertains to cases of normal occlusion where untoward environmental forces are occurring which threaten the occlusion. Interceptive orthodontics pertains to certain cases of malocclusions where growth and/or eruptive forces may be constructively used to accomplish improved tooth and/or jaw relationships. Corrective orthodontics is the ultimate clinical approach where appliance therapy is principally responsible for changes accomplished. Combinations of these efforts are possible and are required in some cases. While our principal professional concern is developing and distributing knowledge, we must not fail to recognize that its widespread clinical application is the ultimate goal. The public's attitude toward our services, in the final analysis, largely determines our success. Scant improvement in the public's present unsatisfactory attitude toward adequate dental-health care is being made. The successful application of interceptive orthodontics requires that the patient be under continuing care of the same family dentist, because interceptive orthodontics generally involves a program of care rather than a single operation. In addition, the parents of the patient must be able to recognize the defect when it is shown to them, and have the desire for improvement. Consequently, successful application of knowledge in this field requires a high order of dental health care.

Caries incidence in relation to orthodontic therapy

I S THERE some verity to the generally accepted theory that prolonged orthodontic treatment means an increase in the number of cavities? If it is true, is it necessarily true? Is caries the uncontrollable effect of the other-orthodontic appliances? I believe these questions were in my mind since the early part of my orthodontic training. Experience proves that the general public almost unanimously accepts the premise that following the correction of a child’s malocclusion it is always necessary to have extensive reparative work done by the family dentist. To many it is almost as certain to happen as it is to expect that a permanent tooth follows the deciduous tooth. This feeling, justified 01 not, can be found in the family dentist. He will often jokingly remind the orthodontist-and, incidentally, the one to whom he refers all his cases and into whose hands he would trust,ingly commit his own children for orthodontic care--that when the orthodontist is through he will place crowns on all the teeth or will refer the patient to an oral surgeon. It is meant to be humor. But it is not al1 fun-in the minds of both there is apprehension-there ma.v he some truth in all this. Can we prove that if old John Jones had not, smoked as much as he did he might have lived he,vond 100 years of age instead of passing away at 87 ! Can it be proved that overcntin, 0 definitely shortened the life of Robert Smith ? To be scientific it would be necessary to hare these two characters reliye their time in exactly the same manner, except for the one alleged culprit, i.e., smoking or eating. Would Mary Brown have had as many cavities if she had not been under orthodontic treatment for two years t It is not simply a mat,ter of yes or no to any one of these questions. The noticeable absence of literature on this subject of orthodontic decay attests to its complexity. It is almost difficult to understand why so little can be found in the dental literature. Perhaps many would be-investigators have felt it futile to attempt to prove anything conclusively. The intention of any conscientiot~s and honest practitioner in a specialized field is to investigate the true value of his efforts. He asks if he is doing ever>-thing possible for his patient’s benefit. Could he do aything more 1 Ts an> harm being done? Can it be avoided or even minimized? Is it necessary? The orthodontist asks himself these same questions. There is not much to be found in t.hc literature of the last fifteen years. There are two or three investigators presently doing some private work, and

How to Educate the Family Dentist in Periodontia

How to Educate the Family Dentist in Periodontia

Filling materials for children

I N THE past decade the profession of dentistry has observed the gradual and steady growth of a lusty, young member of the family, known as pedodontia or children's dentistry, and this new member of the dental family has now assumed such an important place in the profession that no thinking dentist with an eye upon increased future practice can afford to ignore this work. In spite of this increased interest and study there is still much inferior and slipshod work placed in the mouths of children, and apparently much of this inferior work has resulted from the improper choice and use of filling materials in both deciduous and permanent teeth. We are offered the choice of some five materials for the restoration and preservation of the teeth of children, and each has its place in children's dentistry, and every practit ioner should familiarize himself with the use of each material in its proper place. The five materials in order of their importance are. copper amalgam, gold (both inlays and foil), silver amalgam, synthetics, and plastics (copper, silver and zinc cements). Copper amalgam should be the material chosen in 95 per cent of the children from the ages of two to seven years, and as this covers the majori ty of the period called childhood, it is placed first in importance. This material should be used by the dentist much more extensively than it is at the present time and should replace almost entirely the use of silver amalgam in deciduous teeth, for it has all of the necessary qualities of silver plus the very important attribute of the prevention of recurrent caries. Silver amalgam is indicated in all permanent molars where for any reason gold cannot be used, or in those deciduous teeth where the dark color of copper amalgam may be objectionable, but these lat ter cases are very much in the minority. Too much cannot be said in condemnation of the use of plastic cements on occlusal or masticating surfaces in the child mouth, for they wash out rapidly, destroying contacts and tooth form and occasionally may even cause malocclusion through loss of space in the arch. The silicates have only one place in the child mouth, and that is in the labial cavities on deciduous canines, lateral incisors or central incisors, and occasionally if the teeth are thick enough for proper cavity preparation upon the proximal surfaces of these teeth when the discolorations from the use of silver nitrate in these areas would be objectionable. The plastic cements (copper, silver and zinc oxide) should be used only as a base or foundation for building a restoration of metal when caries has approached the pulp too closely or where actual pulp exposure has occurred,

Some Responsibilities of the Family Dentist and the Dental Specialist

Introduction: It is essential to have regular audits of the number of oral health personnel so that planning, delivery of services and training can be addressed. There has not been such an audit in South Africa (SA) for more than 10 years. Aim: To determine the demographic profile of dentists and dental specialists (DS) between 2002 and 2015. Methods: A retrospective record-based study was used and all dentists and DS registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) from 2002 till 2015 were included. Demographic data, including gender, age, race, type of practice and geographical residence were recorded. Results: There were 6,125 dentists and 481 DS registered with the HPCSA in 2015. The younger dentists tended to be Black and Asian women while older dentists were mostly White males. The majority of DS with maxillo-facial surgeons (30%), orthodontists (30%) and prosthodontists (17%). The number of dentists increased at around 2% per annum and the majority of the dentists and DS resided in the most metropolitan provinces of SA. Over the 13-year period, the number of female dentists almost doubled and the number of Coloured, Black and Asian/Indian dentists and DS increased sharply. Conclusion: The population to dentist ratio was fairly low, with the majority of dentists and DS residing in the three metropolitan provinces of SA. There has been a relatively sharp increase in the number of Coloured, Black and female dentists, which could be a result of increased admission of previously disadvantaged students to dental schools.

Legal protection of educational standards

Legal protection of educational standards

Cooperation of the Family Dentist in the Mouth Hygiene Movement

Cooperation of the Family Dentist in the Mouth Hygiene Movement

OSTEOMYELITIS OF THE MANDIBLE

The presentation of this paper is made with the thought of possibly aiding in a better understanding of osteomyelitis of the mandible through a full discussion by members of this section. The disease is one that should interest not only the surgeon, but also the physician and dentist. All three practitioners have opportunity to observe and study this destructive and not infrequently fatal disease. The family physician and the family dentist are, by virtue of their intimate relationship to the patient, in a position to recognize symptoms of osteomyelitis developing in the mandible, and can frequently institute efficient treatment for its arrest. Yet, how often is the disease permitted to establish itself before adequate measures are taken to bring about its control. General diseases, such as scarlet fever or measles, may so interfere with the nourishment of the jaw as to permit the entrance of pus-producing organisms. Tuberculosis and syphilis