Some of you may find the concept of "famous dentists throughout history" to be a rather strange one. However, we feel that the history of dentistry is just as important to our society as that of any other medical profession. Therefore, we would like to present our picks for the Top Five Famous Dentists Throughout History:
First off, no rundown of famous dentists would be complete without mentioning John Henry "Doc" Holliday, the mysterious and much-storied wild-west dentist who played a part in many famous stories from the days of the old West, mainly, of course, "the gunfight at the O.K. Corral." However, regardless of the fact that Holliday is mostly known as a extravagant gambler and expert gunslinger, his profession was nonetheless that of being a dentist. His first dental office was located in Atlanta, and then he rambled out to Dallas, Texas where he discovered that he could make more money gambling than practicing dentistry. After that, he ended up in the Wild West where he solidified his place in history by being enmeshed in the turbulent times that were happening there.
Norman W. Kingsley is often called "The Father of Orthodontics", and for good reason. Back in 1880, he wrote "Treatise on Oral Deformities," which was hugely influential on the field of dentistry as a whole. On top of being a pioneering dentist, he also was an artist, writer of fiction and sculptor. His 1880 book is still referenced today. He was also the founder of the New York State Dental Society in 1868.
Another famous dentist was originally a psychiatrist. However, Sir James Crichton-Browne, was most famous for his work in connection with the field of dentistry, specifically pediatric dentistry. Besides being an early advocate of dental care for children, this dentist was responsible for the discovery of the benefits of fluorine to fight tooth decay, which was about a half-century ahead of being officially confirmed by dentists worldwide.
Pierre Fauchard, an important French physician, wrote "The Surgeon Dentist" in 1728. This was truly a ground-breaking book that documented thoroughly everything from basic oral anatomy and oral pathology, to methods of treatment for removing tooth decay, orthodontics, replacement of missing teeth, etc., and earned him the title of "The Father of Modern Dentistry."
Finally, another groundbreaking dentist was Thomas Curtis, the first African-American dentist in Alabama. He served both the dental and African-American communities as a model of what being a dentist should be, and was a huge proponent and advocate for equal rights when it came to the practice and availability of the dental resources for all people.
We here at the Oakville Place Dental Office blog feel that these (and other famous, important dentists) often go under appreciated as far as their historical significance is concerned. So, next time you're in the dental chair, why not do a little name dropping and mention to your dentist one of these names you've learned today. After all, he or she spends so much time every day working on everyone else's smile, why not try seeing if you can make their smile a little bit brighter too?
Showing posts with label Oakville Place Dental Office. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oakville Place Dental Office. Show all posts
Monday, February 1, 2010
Getting the Most Out of Going to the Dentist Office
When it comes to being fully informed about keeping your teeth healthy and all other things dental, there is obviously no one better to talk to than a dentist. However, many of us find ourselves "freezing up" a bit once we actually arrive at a dental office for a variety of reasons, even perhaps due to having some amount of "odotophobia" (as mentioned in a previous blog entry). Unfortunately, the end result of our "freezing up" is that we don't end up fully communicating to our dentists all of our dental needs. Here are a few examples of what I mean...
First off, it is important that you remember that dentists are people too, and therefore they are all different. They all have different approaches in how they treat patients, i.e. they all have different "bedside manners." Therefore, it is always good to get to know your dentist's style before you dive too deep into your dental care with him or her. So before getting to the point when it might be time to undergo a major dental procedure, be sure to schedule a routine visit with your dentist first. This way, you can get to know your dentist and have the potential of building a more trusting relationship with him or her. And remember, if your dentist's approach doesn't sit right with you, you may want to consider going to someone else for dental care that you can feel more comfortable with.
Secondly, once you know that you are with a dentist that you do indeed feel comfortable with, it is important to make sure to share all of your potentially pertinent medical information with him or her. This means telling your dentist about things like any prescription medications that you may be taking and of any medical conditions that you might have. You would be surprised to know how many different medical conditions can make it so that certain special precautions should be taken upon undergoing any major dental procedure. Additionally, you should definitely express to your dentist any mental concerns or fears that you may have regarding the undergoing of any procedure, even if it is just that you have an overall fear of going to the dentist itself. Don't be shy! Your dentist would much rather know of your feelings and concerns beforehand, so that he or she can do a better job making you feel as comfortable as possible.
Lastly, it is extremely important to keep your dentist fully informed of any pain, sensitivity, or other symptoms that you may have regarding your teeth. Many patients don't want to do this because they fear that they will be getting themselves into more "trouble" by revealing to the dentist new problems that will then have to be dealt with. However, it is important to keep in mind that you are at the dentist office in the first place in order to get rid of (and/or prevent) any potential dental problems that you might have. So why would you want to keep anything like that a secret? Also, by choosing to keep quiet about any tooth pain, you may just end up having to undergo a more serious dental procedure later instead.
So, be sure to communicate clearly and thoroughly with your dentist about everything we've talked about here. By making sure that you keep him or her as fully informed as possible, you will be guaranteed to get the most out of all your future trips to the dentist office.
First off, it is important that you remember that dentists are people too, and therefore they are all different. They all have different approaches in how they treat patients, i.e. they all have different "bedside manners." Therefore, it is always good to get to know your dentist's style before you dive too deep into your dental care with him or her. So before getting to the point when it might be time to undergo a major dental procedure, be sure to schedule a routine visit with your dentist first. This way, you can get to know your dentist and have the potential of building a more trusting relationship with him or her. And remember, if your dentist's approach doesn't sit right with you, you may want to consider going to someone else for dental care that you can feel more comfortable with.
Secondly, once you know that you are with a dentist that you do indeed feel comfortable with, it is important to make sure to share all of your potentially pertinent medical information with him or her. This means telling your dentist about things like any prescription medications that you may be taking and of any medical conditions that you might have. You would be surprised to know how many different medical conditions can make it so that certain special precautions should be taken upon undergoing any major dental procedure. Additionally, you should definitely express to your dentist any mental concerns or fears that you may have regarding the undergoing of any procedure, even if it is just that you have an overall fear of going to the dentist itself. Don't be shy! Your dentist would much rather know of your feelings and concerns beforehand, so that he or she can do a better job making you feel as comfortable as possible.
Lastly, it is extremely important to keep your dentist fully informed of any pain, sensitivity, or other symptoms that you may have regarding your teeth. Many patients don't want to do this because they fear that they will be getting themselves into more "trouble" by revealing to the dentist new problems that will then have to be dealt with. However, it is important to keep in mind that you are at the dentist office in the first place in order to get rid of (and/or prevent) any potential dental problems that you might have. So why would you want to keep anything like that a secret? Also, by choosing to keep quiet about any tooth pain, you may just end up having to undergo a more serious dental procedure later instead.
So, be sure to communicate clearly and thoroughly with your dentist about everything we've talked about here. By making sure that you keep him or her as fully informed as possible, you will be guaranteed to get the most out of all your future trips to the dentist office.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Spotlight on Oakville 1: Delicious Healthy Food in Oakville
All of the talk on this blog about teeth and keeping them healthy has gotten us here at Oakville Place Dental Office thinking about what teeth are really for, and that's eating! Eating healthy food is important to maintaining a good quality of life (and, of course, to protect your teeth as well), and there are many great places right here in Oakville ready to satisfy any healthy appetite
.
One type of food that is always satisfying AND healthy is sushi (as long as you avoid the tempura!), and our favorite sushi place in Oakville is definitely Crazy Sushi. At first, the name might make you think that the sushi might be fired out of some sort of cannon, sliced in the air by a kamikaze sushi chef, and then caught in the mouth of the customer (or some other "crazy" scenario), but the only thing crazy about this place is how crazy we are about it! They always use the freshest ingredients, never have any MSG in their food and they even have a teppanyaki room (that's the style of cooking where the chef grills the food right in front of you and then puts it right on your plate; can't get any fresher than that!).
One of the first things one usually orders at a Japanese restaurant is miso soup, and right from the start Crazy Sushi will impress. We recommend trying the spicy salmon miso noodle soup (no fried noodles) or the spicy chicken miso noodle soup, which are both as good as they sound. But, alas, what would a place with a name like Crazy Sushi be without something unusual? For that we favor the highly original concept of the sushi pizza! That's right, sushi pizza features a delicious crisp rice patty for the crust, topped with fresh salmon sashimi & sweet roasted garlic aioli. For more appetizing selections, check them out on the web at http://www.crazysushioakville.ca/ . Bonzai!
When it comes to eating out, sometimes you just have to find a place that really goes the extra mile in the dining experience, and for us that equals a visit to the Twisted Fork (http://www.twistedfork.ca/). Fresh, high quality and often organic cuisine is served in an atmosphere that is sophisticated, yet casual at the same time. When it comes to Italian fusion cuisine, these guys do it all, from fresh seafood linguine to something we love called "basa cantalan," which is fish slow-cooked with capers and a delicious sauce served over basmati rice. And, best of all, they specialize in catering to any healthy eating plan that you may have.
Of course, sometimes you have to just go all out, and Twisted Fork is there for the occasion. They also provide catered food for special events, and are going to be putting something extra-special together for your next holiday meal: turducken! That's right; a turkey stuffed with a duck stuffed with a chicken, with stuffing all throughout! How's that for going all out?!
So, why not go out right now and treat yourself to some great, healthy food made right here in Oakville. All this talk about food has gotten us hungry, so we're going to go eat!
Bon appetit!
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Cure Your Odontophobia Today!
Nervous about your next trip to the dentist? Keep cool in the dental chair during your next visit by heeding the following advice:
1. Find a Dentist you are Comfortable with.
Now, if you are one of those people that have developed a fear of the dentist (officially known as "odontophobia"), you definitely need to have a dentist that you are comfortable with in the first place. Your dentist should have a good bedside manor and make you at ease as much as possible, and if you fear the dentist more than most, you should communicate with them about this issue. Alternatively, if you do not like your dentist's style and way of treating patients, then find another dentist! I know that this may seem obvious, but you would be surprised by how many people don't take matters into their own hands when it comes to this.
2. This Ain't the Wild West!
An additional fact to keep in mind is that much of our fear of the dentist probably springs from the past, from times before the existence of the high-tech, vastly more advanced methods for dental procedures and of pain relief that thankfully exist today. Relax, we've come a long way from Doc Holiday with his nasty pliers and only his bottle of Jack Daniels to help you get through the dental experience! You can take comfort in the fact that dentists use the latest technology to make dental work as safe and as efficient for the patient as possible.
3. The Power of Positive Thinking.
Finally, an important aspect of overcoming fear of the dentist is the power of realistic, positive thinking. After all: you are actually going to the dentist to AVOID pain, because if dental problems go undiagnosed and untreated, the person afflicted will almost certainly suffer as a result. The dentist is there to fix your teeth so that they are pain-free, as well as to make them more beautiful to both the world and, most importantly, to you. In fact, skipping dental appointments is what should scare us!
-DC
1. Find a Dentist you are Comfortable with.
Now, if you are one of those people that have developed a fear of the dentist (officially known as "odontophobia"), you definitely need to have a dentist that you are comfortable with in the first place. Your dentist should have a good bedside manor and make you at ease as much as possible, and if you fear the dentist more than most, you should communicate with them about this issue. Alternatively, if you do not like your dentist's style and way of treating patients, then find another dentist! I know that this may seem obvious, but you would be surprised by how many people don't take matters into their own hands when it comes to this.
2. This Ain't the Wild West!
An additional fact to keep in mind is that much of our fear of the dentist probably springs from the past, from times before the existence of the high-tech, vastly more advanced methods for dental procedures and of pain relief that thankfully exist today. Relax, we've come a long way from Doc Holiday with his nasty pliers and only his bottle of Jack Daniels to help you get through the dental experience! You can take comfort in the fact that dentists use the latest technology to make dental work as safe and as efficient for the patient as possible.
3. The Power of Positive Thinking.
Finally, an important aspect of overcoming fear of the dentist is the power of realistic, positive thinking. After all: you are actually going to the dentist to AVOID pain, because if dental problems go undiagnosed and untreated, the person afflicted will almost certainly suffer as a result. The dentist is there to fix your teeth so that they are pain-free, as well as to make them more beautiful to both the world and, most importantly, to you. In fact, skipping dental appointments is what should scare us!
-DC
Stop Dreaming of a White Christmas and Start Dreaming of Whiter Teeth
After all, we must remember to care for ourselves in order to be able to be truly giving to others, and we must be especially careful not to forget our own needs during this season of giving. This includes taking time out to relax and de-stress, and treating your body with the respect that it deserves. Exercise, healthy eating and regular trips to the doctor are all important fundamentals to keeping ourselves healthy. These are all gifts we can treat ourselves to year 'round that no one in their right mind could consider selfish. And, don't forget the all-important dentist!
After all, not only is dental care essential to your health, it also can have an immediate effect on your appearance with whitening treatments or just from getting a regular cleaning. Unless you've been especially naughty this year, I think that you would agree that a visit to the dentist for a cleaning and/or whitening could be just the perfect little guilt-free gift to give to yourself this year for Christmas.
Taking care of your smile for the holidays makes a lot of sense when you think about it. During Christmas in particular, we put a ton of effort into decorating our living rooms and homes with lights, wreathes, statues and many different decorations. It seems only natural that you would want to keep your smile in just as much of a splendid condition for the holiday season. Remember, they say that your body is your temple, after all...
So, stop dreaming of a white Christmas and go out and get your smile white instead by making an appointment with the staff at Oakville Place Dental Office! You'll be glad you did, knowing that Santa will be more likely to put you on his "nice" list this year for making sure your teeth stay "as white as the snow"!
Happy Holidays!
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