Fun – Page 2

IV sedation can be fun – for the oral surgeon

September 13, 2013 By Trish Walraven 1 Comment

Haven’t you wondered what your patients experience when you send them to your most trusted oral surgeons? Here’s an in-depth video that explains the process of taking out their third molars:

I have to give the Awkward Spaceship sketch comedy group a HUGE thank-you for making this a top-notch, truly hilarious, dental-wanna-see video. I wish I could say I’ve seen a funnier skit or parody about dentistry but no one else even throws a paper ball anywhere close to where you guys throw ’em. So for now I’ll say congratulations and suggest a new challenge for Dentally Challenged:

Offering a smile makeover to someone whose teeth are the LEAST of their problems.

What society thinks you do

September 11, 2013 By DentalBuzz Staff 1 Comment

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Does the portrayal of dentists and dentistry in the media represent reality?

by Gideon, exclusively for DentalBuzz

Meeting new or existing patients with dental fear or phobia is growing more commonplace in a society that is led by the media. The portrayal of dentistry in the media is not always a positive, pain-free one and much like other medical practices, this has led to a generation of people who simply are not visiting their dentist. So is the regularly frightening or comedic portrayal of the industry a real representation of dental practices?

The media is not singularly at fault for dental phobias and this article is not setting out to prove otherwise. As we are all aware, early childhood experiences, other medical treatments that may have been unpleasant and learning fears from others all play their separate parts. From cosmetic dentists through to dental surgeons, none are immune from nervous and frightened patients – we are in fact trained to deal with patients’ worries in a compassionate and supportive manner.

Representation in the movies

Many of us will remember the dentist from Little Shop of Horrors first; Steve Martin did an excellent job as arguably the most terrifying and hilarious dentist in film history. With the use of oversized, out of date and unconventional equipment, it is clear to see how the notion of a narcissistic dentist fell into the public eye and into our hearts. It is quite obvious that dentists don’t use such techniques in practice but suggestion can be as damaging to reputations as reality. However, this film was far less damaging than the 1976 adaptation of Goldman’s The Marathon Man. The depiction of the Nazi dentist, who not only caused his patients extreme pain but also experimented inside their mouths, can be argued as the cause of the 70-80’s generation avoiding the dentist.

Throughout many movies and equally TV shows, dentists are often portrayed as either narcissists or as incompetent fools. There are very few noteworthy characters where this is not the case, at least in the US and the UK. In the early 2000’s the British TV show, ‘My Family’ had the leader of the home as a dentist who didn’t care for his family and cared even less about his patients. This is not the first role like this and it won’t be the last.

Even those movies where dentistry or even indirect dental references are used in a comedic way, such as The Hangover or Horrible Bosses, just the mention of this form of work is enough to remind a patient of a previous bad experience they may have had. It is this form of visual trigger that has caused a severe decline in dental health over the past few years. There is however a flip side to this notion. Dr Stu Price from the Hangover films does a fantastic job of portraying the dental health service in a positive, funny and upbeat manner. This may serve to lessen patient’s fears rather than increase them.

Cartoons

We all know that the age we need to start the education program about personal health is when patients are very young. It is why we hand out badges or stickers to our younger guests, but this work is then counteracted by the portrayal of dentists within children’s cartoons. Whatever age you are, it can be assumed that at some point you will have watched a cartoon where a dentist created all manner of horrific contraptions. Psychologically, although these contraptions and potions may be viewed as funny by your child, they can leave negative mental scars that are far harder to eradicate in later life.
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It is at this tender age that dentistry, along with other medical procedures and practices need to be portrayed in a positive fashion. To eradicate dental phobia, the representation of the profession to younger people must become more educational and realistic.

Gideon is a 3rd year student at Brandeis University well on his way to becoming a dentist, and who appreciates films, family, TV, the dentists who are currently mentoring him and all the people in the world who may one day be his patients.

Serious tongue action

August 28, 2013 By Trish Walraven 3 Comments

Are you in a state of media overshock after this gratuitous display of tongue-adge on a certain video awards show? No? But it may give you pause to think about all the naughtiness that tongues present to you as a dental clinician on a daily basis.

Most tongues behave themselves very well when you’re working in their realm. It IS the tongue’s kingdom after all; the mouth is where this majestic muscle rules supremely, preventing any dangerous objects from being inhaled or swallowed. However, there are some tongues that simply won’t cooperate, no matter how much you comfort and reassure them. See if you recognize any of these personalities in the tongues you have worked with.

The Stalker

This is a tongue that hangs back, ominously, but sort of follows you a tiny bit, like it’s planning to MURDER you while you’re simply blowing an occlusal surface dry. It is the godfather of tongues, so you had better not refuse its offer of allowing you to LIVE.

The Fist

If you encounter The Fist, you will be lucky to gain power over it. Usually appears when you’re working on an upper posterior tooth. The tongue will ball up and tighten so hard that you cannot wedge anything, not even oxygen itself, between the tooth and the tongue.

The Dive Bomber

You know you’re working with a Dive Bomber tongue when the tip of it continuously pounds you from every direction. It wouldn’t be surprising at all if the patient were actually whistling downward and making the CRRR crash sound with every hit. Your dentistry may feel like the crumbled buildings in Space Invaders by the time this appointment is over.

The Wave

A tongue doing The Wave is bad. Not that it’s doing anything to get in your way, but when the ripple of peristaltic action starts quivering along the rim of the tongue, that usually means that the patient is about a half-second away from a gag and a wretch. Have your high-speed suction available for…um…incidentals.

The Bulldozer

Everyone has had experience with this tongue. It’s one big bully, pushing you around, scooping up the rubber dam clamp and pelting it against the wall before you even consider straightjacketing it with your square of latex. The Bulldozer will warp impression vinyl into a freakshow of “was that a human or an octopus?” when questioned by your lab, and is generally violent towards anything you try to put in the attached patient’s mouth.

The Lover

This tongue is so embarrassing! You’re working along, minding your manners, when it just sort-of slinks up the handle of your mouth mirror and begins pole dancing. Worst of all is seeing this happen to a straight male dentist by an apparently straight male patient who has no idea that his tongue is lovingly caressing the tools. You just. Can’t. Say. Anything. But your assistant will, after the appointment, behind your back. Or worse, to your face.

The Exorcist

I’ve only seen The Exorcist once. Okay, twice, but it was the same patient, and I would have never believed that a tongue could move like that unless I’d seen it with my own eyes. The Exorcist stands up, perfectly straight in the center of the mouth and slowly and continuously rotates in a clockwise direction while you’re cleaning the left side of the mouth, and then stops and begins rotating in the opposite direction when cleaning the other side. The only reason I didn’t call a priest was because the patient’s health history showed she was taking some major antidepressants and schizophrenia medications.

The Puppy Dog

Like a real puppy dog, this tongue is actually kind of cute. It bounces, following you around while you’re touring a patient’s mouth, stopping to sniff while you check the edge of an old amalgam, wagging its tail when you give it a little attention. It’ll even pee on itself if it gets nervous. Yeah, you’ve seen that submandibular salivary gland gleek squirt piddle.

The Cobra

The Cobra should be heeded, but it is more of a display than an actual threat. When a patient’s tongue slowly raises up and looks like a curved shield about to strike, get out your clarinet. It’s time for a little snake charming.

The Victim

This tongue acts like it’s been maimed and waterboarded, cowering in the back of the throat like it’s trying to make itself as small as possible. You actually feel sorry for The Victim, and find yourself trying to convince the patient that you’re not the dentist from The Marathon Man, which can cause some funny looks from the oblivious. One problem with The Victim is that it may end up consoling itself by acting out its former abuse and become The Lover. NOOOOOOOOOO!

And if this is the best tongue-in-cheek humor you’ve EVER READ you need to share it now. Oh that was bad. But share, because the world needs more tongue humor, at least.

Poppin caps

June 12, 2013 By Trish Walraven 1 Comment

As a hygienist, I don’t prep teeth. I pop caps all the time, though, when the cement is dangling out of a margin and I’m working it hard with a cavitron tip. Wooo, those are smelly enough to inspire me to write some lyrics using this song as a framework.

In the meantime, enjoy this dental school video.

Art and flossophy

June 5, 2013 By Trish Walraven 4 Comments

Hal Mayforth must really like dental floss. Therefore I like Hal Mayforth, and as much as I used to be an evangelical hygienist who preached that there was only ONE WAY to dental health, and that was through flossing, I have since become a little more ecumenical in my approach: there are many paths to righteousness. WaterPiks, Stimudents, Superfloss, Sonicares, Soft-Picks, angled flossing gizmos, they’re all okay in my book of holiness as long as patients aren’t looking all stagnant between their teeth when they visit our office.

In your office, you should still promote flossing as well, since it’s the gold standard of interdental cleaning, patients understand its necessity, and they’re expecting the lecture from you, but they still won’t do it, maybe.

Or maybe if you let something else do the talking, they might floss? That’s where Hal Mayforth comes in. He’s an illustrator whose style may already feel familiar to you. It should; he’s been doing this sort of thing for over 35 years. His keen humor might look really good in your operatories, in your reception area, along the walls, and it just so happens that he’s got a few prints for sale about dental health if you’re looking for a way to lift up the level of levity in your practice.

When he’s not tending to his teeth, Hal Mayforth is busy getting his work published in national magazines like Rolling Stone, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Forbes and many others. You know, the ones who still actually print on paper. And his sketchbook is fun, too. I borrowed a couple of sketches from it to display below for you to enjoy, and mostly, for you to get a sense of his focus.

It would make me happy for you to Visit Hal’s website and take a look at his creativity. If for nothing else, you need a smile today.

And isn’t that what dentistry is really about?