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Dentistry

JacobR.Kolessar

EnglishIIIHonors
Mr.Piatak
February27,2014


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JacobKolessar
February27,2014
English3
Class:D
MrPiatak

Dentistry
Dentistry,afantasticcareertobecomeinvolvedwith.Althoughunderconstantchangeit
canprovidemanyjobopportunitiesandjobsinlife.Thoughittakesmucheducation,
determination,andpersistencewhilebecomingaDentist,therewardsshallyieldgreatplenty.
Dentistryhasbeenbeenaroundfor5000years.Andoverthose5000yearsthisfieldhasbeen
underconstantchange,tomakeproceduresmoreefficient,effective,andaffordable.Aswellas
lesspainful,andhigherqualitywork.Butwithanyhighpositioncomeslotofprioreducation.
Dentistsspendmanyyearsincollegepriortoattendingdentalschool.Therigourofstudyfora
dentistcontainsanenormousloadforatleast8yearsifnotmore,ifthedentistchoosesto
specializeinaspecificfieldofdentistry.Oncealltherigorouseducationiscompletethework
willbegintopayoff,onceadentisthashis/herownpractice.Dentistshavefantasticworking
conditions,besidesthemouthstheyworkin.Theyhavegreathouseandrarelyevertakework
homewiththem.Howeverwhileattheofficetheyconstantlywork.Furthermorethispaper
willlayoutthehistoryofdentistry,describetheeducationinvolvedinbecomingadentist,and
expandonwhatthelifeofsomeoneinthisprofession.
Fivethousandyearsagothefirstwrittenaccountsofdentaldiseaseswererecordedin


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Mesopotamiaonstonetablets.The
firstknowndentisttotheworld,anEgyptiannamedHesiRe
toothcleanerwholivedaboutthreethousandyearsago.Inhistimeteethcleaningswerenotfor
theaverageperson,andpeopledidnotconcernthemselveswithdentalhealth.HesiRewould
performbasiccleaningstotheeliteofthetime,thepharos,andothe
rroyals(TheOxford
CompaniontotheBody.).Hisoperationsduringhistimewererelativelycomplexandexpensive
but,withthemoderntechnologywehavetodaythesameoperationscostafairpriceandsimple
(Dentistry,TheColumbiaEncyclopedia).Allowingmorepeopletohaveaccesstodentalcare.
Around630BCinSidon,Lebanonthefirstdenturesweconstructedandused(The
OxfordCompaniontotheBody.).Denturesorfalseteeth,thatusedreplacemissingteeth.These
dentureshavebeenmadeasaonesizefitsallshape(DentalImplants).Firstdentureswere
ivorycarvedintoatoothshapeddesign,oratoothofadeceasedpersonoranimal.The
denture(s)wereinstalledbywrappingagold,orothermalleablemetalwirearoundthedentures,
andconnectingthemtohealthyteethinthemouthbywrappingthewirearoundthehealthytooth
(TheOxfordCompaniontotheBody.).Mostofthesedentureswerenotcreatednorinstalledby
dentistsorprofessionals,butratherbysimplepeopleinthemarketplace(DentalImplants).This
wouldhappeninmarketplaceslikeancientRomeandGreece.EvenThoughbothgreat
civilizationhadphysicianswhowouldspecificallystudyandworkwithdentistry.Thesemen
weremastersofusinggoldtofixandpreventtoothdecay,toothextraction,anddenture
implication.Theyalsobegantousesanitarymeasurestopreventthespreadofdisease(The
OxfordCompaniontotheBody.).Whichwouldresultinimprovedhealthandlifespanofpeople
inthistimeandgoingforward.Alsothespreadofdiseaseandplaguewouldbeslowed.
Whenthedarkagesbeganthedestructionofhumanhistorybegan.Theresearchand


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discoveriesfoundbyprevioussocieties.ForNearly1000yearsinthedarkagesalladvancesin
healthcareandmedicinecametoahalt.InEuropemuchinformationhadfallenandbelievedto
belost.ButfortunatelythemajorityofinformationhadbeenstoredbyIslamicandchinese
scholars(TheOxfordCompaniontotheBody.).Asthedarkageslowedtherecirculationof
knowledgerapidlyincreased.
Therenaissancebroughtatimeofdiscovery,education,enlightenment,andreason.Many
Medicalfieldsbegantoemergeandbegintobestudied.Advancesindentistryarosefromthe
newstudiesintherenaissance.PierreFauchard,aFrenchscientistacclaimedforfounding
moderndentistry.Hebegancreatingdenturesandfillingsmadeoflead,tin,andgold(Dentistry,
TheColumbiaEncyclopedia).In1728PierreFauchardcomposed
LeChirurgienDentiste,an
instructionalmanuscripteducationpeopleandotherdoctorsaboutnewandmostmoderndental
practices.Hisbookdescribedhowtoperformbasiccleaningsandhowtoscrapeoutplaque.Also
itdescribeshowtocreateandinstallfillingsanddentures.

LeChirurgienDentistestartedto
refertopeoplewhocleanteethasdentalsurgeonsordentists(TheOxfordCompaniontothe
Body.).Whichleadsustothecurrenttermofusetodaydentist.
In1840thefirstdentalschoolwasconstructedandopenedinTheUnitedStatesof
AmericainBaltimore,Maryland.Thismarkedthetransferofworldleadingstudiesinthefields
ofmedicine,science,research,anddevelopment.Theopeningofthisdentalschoolmarksthe
beginningofresearchinTheUnitedStatesofAmerica.Herethedentaldrillshallfirstusedand
builtandtested.Furthermorethedevelopmentandtestingofanestheticsalsobeganhere
(The
OxfordCompaniontotheBody.)
.
Priorto1844therewerenomedicalanestheticstorelievethepainofsurgery.Although


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opiumandlaudanumweresoldcommonlyoverthecounter.Evenwithopiumandlaudanum
usedaspainkillers,thatcometobehighlyaddictiveaswellasdangero
us.UntilAmerican
dentist,HoraceWells,wasthefirstpersontoexperiencetoothextractionundernitrousoxide
analgesia.Twoyearslater,WilliamMortonextractedatoothunderetheranaesthesia.In1884,
Dr.Nashwasthefirstpersontofillatoothusingcocaineinjectedasalocalanaesthetic.In1905,
cocainewasreplacedbythesyntheticdrugnovocaine(procaine).Thisinturnwasreplacedby
lignocaine(lidocaine),whichisinusetoday(TheOxfordCompaniontotheBody.).Makingthe
dentalproceduresdonelesspainful,whichwouldallowustocreatemorecomplexprocedures.
Inpasttimesdentureshavebeenmadeofivoryandawireholdingtheminthemouth.
UntilNelsonGoodyearperfectedvulcanizedrubber.Thecreationofcastsandmoldsofpeoples
teethhelpmakedenturesmorepersonalizedandbetterfitting.(TheOxfordCompaniontothe
Body.).Anotherbenefittovulcanizedenturescanbethedecreasescostmakingthemmore
widelyavailableforallpeople.AlsobasedonamorerecentstudyfromtheInternational
CongressofOralImplantologistspeoplehavebegantorealizethebenefitsofhavingteethlonger
inlife,comparedtothepastwhenpeoplewouldlosealltheirt
eethby50.Althoughtheseanot
realtheystillpracticallyprovideallthefunctionsoforganicteeth(DentalImplants).
Asmorepeoplebegintorequiredentalcareandassistance,dentistneednewerandthebest
technologypossibletohelptheirpatientstothebestofhisorherability.Withnewtoolssuchas
thedentalchair,dentaldrill,electricpowereddentaldrill,amalgamfillings,andmore.In
additiontotechnologytheskillsandknowledgerequiredtobeadentistandcleanteethimprove
aswell.Dentistsmustnowknowhowtoscrapeplaque,cutoutcavitiesfromteeth,apply
adhesives,suchasfluoride,andalsohowtosterilizetheirowninstruments(TheOxford


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CompaniontotheBody.).Todaywh
enonegoestothedentistofficeapersonwillcometothe
conclusionthatateamofdoctorswillhelpclean,orrepaironesteeth.Heretheprocessof
cleaningstartstobecomeagroupeffort.Attheofficeapatienttypicallyhasadentalassistant,
dentalhygienists,andtheactualdentistinchargeoftheoffice.Insomecircumstancesmany
peoplewhoassistatonceatthedentaloffice.Buttypicallyyouhavethreepeopletakecareof
youwhileattheoffice
(TheOxfordCompaniontotheBody.).Alsowithtechnologicaladvances
theremustbesafety
regulationsestablished.WhencaseofpatientsofadentistinFloridahad
AIDSandgotHIVOSHAortheOccupationalSafetyandHealthAdministrationcreated
regulationsthatalldentalpersonnelmustweargloves,amask,glassesorgoggles,andalab
coat.ThesestatuteswereputinplacebyOSHAtopreventthespreadofsicknessbetween
patientsanddentalstaff(Dentistry,TheColumbiaEncyclopedia).Thesenewlawshelpprotect
patientsandthedoctorssafeanddiseasefree.
Arapidlygrowingfieldindentistry,yetsomewhatcontroversial,sedation
dentistry.Alsoknownas"sleepdentistry"whichsupposedlymakesatriptothedentist"pain
free"ormaybeeven"relaxing".Sedationdentistryusesanesthesiatohelpalleviatethepainor
anxietycausedbydentalwork.AlsoSedationDentistrywouldmakeoperationsonpatientswith
specialneedsmuchlesscomplexorstressful.Althoughitconcernsmanydentiststhatamore
effectivewaytodothis,withoutusinganesthesiashouldbeimplemented.Manypeople,and
caregiversavoidgoingtothedentistbecauseofanxieties,andwithoutthesepeopletryingthe
procedureswewillnotknowwhethertheyyieldsuccessfulresults.Dentistsrecommendthat
potentialpatientsofthesesproceduresresearchthembeforegoingtohaveitdone.Andhavea
scheduledconferencebetweenthedentistandpatienttodiscusshis/hertreatment.Alsothe


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AmericanAcademyofPediatricDentistry(AAPD)hassetverystrictguidelinesonthese
procedurestomakethemsafeaspossible.(Blende,David.).Butevenwithmanyeffortstomake
procedureslikethisassafeaspossiblemanypeoplestillhaveirresolutionsabouthavingthese
proceduredoneonthemselvesand/orlovedones.
Likeinanyoccupationmorespecializedfieldsalsoavailable.Someofthespecialized
fieldprovideanalternativetodentistry.Likeinthemajorityofjobseachspecialityhasslightly
differingcharacteristics.Dentistshaveaverygoodpay,butbutmustspendalotofmoneyand
timeinandinschool.Thecareerpathstofollowthroughdentistryhaveendlesspossibilities,
suchasAcademicDentistry,DentistryinaPrivatePractice(Generalor
SpecialistSelfEmployed,Employee,Associate/Partner),DentalResearcher,DentalPublic
Policy,InternationalHealthCare,FederalGovernment(Ex.MilitaryDentist).Mostdentistshave
theirowngeneralpractice.Generaldentistsusethelatesttechnology,equipment,andtoolsto
diagnoseoralconditions,replaceteethandperformcorrectivesurgeries,overseebusinessand
financialstabilityoftheirpractice,andassesspatientshealth.Theremorespecificdental
professionssuchasthefollowingaccordingtotheAmericanDentalEducationAssociation:
Endodonticsdiagnosisandtreatmentofinjuriesthatspecificallydealwithdentalnervesand
pulp(matterinsidethetooth).OralandMaxillofacialPathologystudyandresearchofthe
causes,processes,andeffectsofdiseaseswithoralmanifestations.OralandMaxillofacial
Radiologytakingandinterpretationofconventional,digital,CT,MRI,andalliedimaging
modalitiesoforofacialstructuresanddisease.OralandMaxillofacialSurgerydiagnostic
servicesandtreatmentforinjuries,diseases,anddefectsoftheneck,headjaw,andassociated
structures.OrthodonticsandDentofacialOrthopedicsdiagnosisandtreatmentofproblems


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relatedtoirregulardentaldevelopment,missingteeth,andotherabnormalities.Pediatric
Dentistrytreatmentofchildrenfrombirthtoadolescence.Periodonticscorrectivesurgeryon
gumsandsupportingbonestotreatgumdisease.Prosthodonticsrestorationandreplacementof
teethdamagedbydecay,lostfromtraumaordisease,withfixedorremovableappliances
constructedwithnewlydevelopeddentalmaterial.Lastly,DentalPublicHealth,isaverybroad
topicthatmostlyconsistsofthedevelopmentofhealthpolicies.TheGoDentalprogramhas
beenlaunchedtohelpmakeaplannedpathwayforfuturedentists.Theaveragedentistina
privategeneralpracticeworksabouta36hourworkweekandmakesabout$214,070ayear
(AmericanDentalEducationAssociation.).Thereappearstohaveaveryselectquantityof
dentistsanddentalstaffnotinaprivatepractice.
ThemajorityofDentistsintheUnitedStatesowntheirownpractice.AccordingtoDr.
StephenSaksanOrthodontistwhoownsapracticeinMooresville,NorthCarolinaThehardest
partofbeinganorthodontistisnotthedentalandsurgicalaspects,butthebusinessaspectof
beinganownerofapractice.UnfortunatelythewayIlearned,howtoconductmybusinessis
throughisthroughtrialanderror.Ofcourseitisalwaysaboutthepatients,butyoualsohaveto
consideryouremployeesand,howadecisioncanaffectthemandthebusiness.Alsoanother
challengeisdecidinghowmuchstafftohaveemployed,andhowmuchtopaythemisalwaysa
challengetoo.Butoverallthenumberonethingthatwilldeterminesuccessisthe
communication,andinteractionbetweenpeopleinthebusiness,howpatients,dentistand
employeesallinteracttogether,andiftherelationshipandexperienceisnotgoodthepractice
willnotbeasuccessfullongtermpractice(Saks,StephenDDS.).Alsothoughmyinterview
withDr.SaksIlearnedthattheDentistinchargeofthepracticesetthemoralsandthecaliber


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service.
AlongwiththechallengesabovetheDentistplaytheroleofanentrepreneurwithavision
forhowhis/herpracticewilllookinthefuture.Alsotheymustmaketheinitialinvestmentto
openthepractice,whichcostslotsofmoney,andisverychallengingtostartanythingfrom
nothing.Butoncethebusinesshasstabilizedthelongawaitedsubstantialpayoffwillbe
substantial.
Tobecomeadentistpriorto1920youwouldneednoschooling,justbasicdental
suppliesandaminimalamountofmoneytopayforyourdentallicense(Gelbier,S).Inthe
moderneradentalschoolhavebecomeveryexpensive,longandtedious.Butthesky'sthelimit
withwhatonecandowithadegreeafterschool.Priortodentalschooloneshallcompleteafour
yearbachelor'sdegreeandhavetaketheminimumnumberofrequiredclasses:eighthoursof
Biologywithalab,eighthoursofPhysics,eighthoursofEnglish,eighthoursofGeneral
Chemistrywithalab,andeighthoursofOrganicChemistrywithalab.ThenTaketheDental
AdmissionsTest(DAT)andscorewelltobeadmittedintodentalschool.ThenyourG.P.Ais
consideredalongwithlettersofrecommendation,personalinterviews,andifyouhavehad
experiencein,orshadowingatadentaloffice(AmericanDentalAssociation.).Thenfourmore
yearsofschoolingbegins.
Onceyoubeginstudyingatatadentalschoolyouspendthefirsttwoyearsinthe
classroomandlablearningaboutprocedures,techniques,andothermaterialoneshalluseintheir
professionalcareer.Theninthefinalyear,ortwoonespendstheirschooltimeobserving,orin
classeslikeoperativedentistry,grossanatomy,oralmedicineandhistology.Alsoonecanobtain
internshipstogainrealworldexperienceinadentaloffice(DegreeDirectory.org.).


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AccordingtoDr.SaksIhavenevermeetanOrthodontist,orDentistunhappywiththeir
job(Saks,StephenDDS).Theaveragedentistworksa36hourweekandspendsthemajority
ofhis/hertimeworkingwithpatients.Butsoofthattimeshallbeusedtomanagethefinancial
aspectofthepractice(AmericanDentalEducationAssociation.).Ifonelooksattheaverageday
ofadentistsithasrelativelysimilaraspectsfromdaytoday.Oneperformsthesametasks,but
doesnotdoperformthemthesameoneverypatience.AccordingtoDr.Saksathispractice
Everymorningtheteamhasameetinggogetonthesamepage,butallotheraspectsaredifferent
daytoday,exceptthatadentistworksonpatients.
Dentistry,afieldfilledwithopportunities,andoption.Dentistsplayacrucialroleinour
societyandwithoutthemitwouldbeshapedverydifferently.Althoughtheinitialpreparation
throughschoolandstartingonesownpatiencecostsafortune,afortunecanbemadethrough
hardworkandperseverance.


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Citations

"ApplyingforDentalSchool."AmericanDentalAssociation.2014.Web.04Jan.2014.
<http://www.ada.org/3219.aspx>.

Blende,David."SedationDentistry:AddressingCaregiverConcernsforSafety."Questia.com.
TheExceptionalParent,Feb.2009.Web.30Jan.2014.<http://www.questia.com/library/
1G1194193869/sedationdentistryaddressingcaregiverconcerns>.

"DentalImplants."DentalImplants.ICOI,2014.Web.07Jan.2014.
<https://dentalimplants.com/>.

Dentist.ExploreHealthCareers.org.AmericanDentalEducationAssociation,6Jan.2014.
Web.06Jan.2014.<http://explorehealthcareers.org/en/Career/1/Dentist>.

"Dentistry."TheOxfordCompaniontotheBody.2001.Encyclopedia.com.6Jan.2014Print.
<.http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/dentistry.aspx#3>

"Dentistry."Questia.com.TheColumbiaEncyclopedia,6thEd.,2013.Web.30Jan.2014.
<http://www.questia.com/read/1E1dentistr/dentistry>.


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Gelbier,S."125YearsofDevelopmentsinDentistry,18802005Part2:LawandtheDentalPro
fession."Nature.com.NaturePublishingGroup,8Oct.2005.Web.07Jan.2014.
<http://wwwnature.com/bdj/journal/v199/n7/full/4812875a.html>.

Saks,StephenDDS.PersonalInterview.26Feb2014

"WhatAretheEducationalRequirementstoBecomeaDentist?"DegreeDirectory.org,2014.
Web.07Jan.2014.<http://degreedirectory.org/articles/What_are_the_Educational_Requi
rements_to_Become_a_Dentist.html>.