In response to John's comment on Dentists - the new “White Van Drivers”
What John wrote to The Grumpy Dentist….about Dentists - the new “White Van Drivers”
In response to John's comment on Dentists - the new “White Van Drivers”
What John wrote to The Grumpy Dentist….about Dentists - the new “White Van Drivers”
John 22/4/2018 12:45:42 pm
I just dont get this article. Its seems like is’s written by someone who is ill infomred and burnt out.
Firstly i cant seem to find these stats which are presented, my search shows the incidence of caries in the US for this age group at 59%. It also only takes into account caries incidence/prevelence in the 2-19 yr old age group, caries is a chronic disease, and as the population are keeping their teeth for longer it is now a diease which has spread proportinally throughout all age groups and not skewed in the child adolecent population.
New materials technology are always developing however i seem to read about one of these breakthroughs yearly but most fail when taken to human trials.
Fluoride seems to be our best weapon but not prefect.
It fails to mention anything about perio!?
And the Grumpy Dentist Replies…..
Dear John
The article in question was published in April 2018. The citation and a pdf appear below.
What was so remarkable about the statistic quoted was that here was some validation for a trend that I have personally observed for many years.
The statistical basis for the article was not observation in some sort of specifically Dental setting. If one were to do similar analysis in populations that have well entrenched (regular attender) patterns of dental maintenance you will find radically different caries (experience) prevalence. This is of course socially selective for those safely above the poverty line. These are the typical Dentists’ patients, and they are very quickly learning that caries is preventible.
Millennials you treat are likely to be deeply invested in being healthy and staying that way.
Your patients are becoming dentally fit and learning how to stay that way - well done you……oh dear……how will you earn your crust tomorrow????
And by the way the great majority of Periodontal disease is also preventible.
I would strongly recommend that you read the futurist Ray Kurzweil, and note carefully the “double exponential” nature of the changing rate of scientific progress. Most projections completely fail to take account of this. This is the reason why the old legacy car manufacturers and utilities completely underestimated the rate of change in their industries. Cars and Energy are now IT industries.
Biology, Pathology and treatment are fast becoming IT domains, and the same rates of double exponential change apply.
Fleming E, Afful J. Prevalence of total and untreated dental caries among youth: United States, 2015–2016. NCHS Data Brief, no 307. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2018.
I see no reason to alter my conclusion about caries being on the way out.
This is something to celebrate and even grumpy dentists can feel some actualisation at having contributed to the wellbeing of mankind.
Your comments are most appreciated but are “ill informed”, and if you’re “burnt out” I would suggest a Spring walk in an English woodland ….. The above is meant with good will and a touch of jest…..
Best wishes
The Grumpy Dentist
Figure 4. Trends in prevalence of total dental caries and untreated dental caries in primary or permanent teeth among youth aged 2–19 years: United States, 2011–2012 through 2015–2016
1 Significant decreasing linear trend from 2011–2012 to 2015–2016. 2 Significant quadratic trend from 2011–2012 to 2015–2016. NOTES: Total dental caries include untreated and treated caries. Access data table for Figure 4. SOURCE: NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011–2016.
Practice Exchange is a comprehensive database of all courses relating to dentistry. The Practice Exchange database is available to you anytime, anywhere. Free of charge. No registration. If you are a course provider, please submit your course to our database for free. This will allow dental professionals to find you easily.
We also run a FREE busy job board for all jobs in the dental profession. If you are a Dentist, Hygienist, Dental Nurse, Practice Manager, Receptionist or an Orthodontist, this is where you will find your next job. It's our responsibility to drive traffic to your posting and ensure as many people as possible are aware of your opportunity.
Comments