Throughout these past weeks, we have covered a very small fraction of the large and diverse aspects of dentistry and oral health. So the question stands here on this final week: why does any of it matter? Why should anyone care about teeth past their ability to chew and their aesthetic qualities? Most people don’t …
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Root Canals
That’s right! It’s time for everyone’s favorite: the root canal. When I began shadowing dentists, I thought the root canal was going to be the procedure that finally made me uncomfortable enough to question my career choice. On the contrary, root canals are probably my favorite procedure to watch. To be absolutely honest, root canals …
Who’s Who Around the Office?
In my experience shadowing dentists, it has occurred to me that nobody walking in quite knows the different people working in their mouths. Admittedly, I didn’t know these positions, either, until I began to shadow. We’re taking a break from hard dental science this week to look into just who is walking around in all …
Tooth Extraction
When treating a patient, the dentist’s goal is to administer the most care with the least invasion. He or she will aim to leave as much of the original tooth structure intact and use meticulous, if not graceful techniques to ensure minimal trauma and damage to the mouth. This week, its time to chuck all …
Cavities
We’ve all been there. Okay, maybe not all of us, but the vast majority of people have experienced that moment of terror when we hear those words for the first time. “You have a cavity.” Or even worse, cavities. The very thought of it makes one shudder, but what exactly is a cavity, how do …
Anatomy and Physiology of the Mouth
There are so many things to know and discuss in terms of taking care of your mouth. What better way to begin than introducing the structures within the oral cavity? Think of this as taking a tour of your own mouth except you won’t ruin your shoes! In all seriousness, it is much easier to …
Welcome to Dentistry 101
The twenty-first century has provided society with some of its greatest advancements. Beyond cellphones, self-driving cars, and the like, advancement within the world of medicine is progressing at a breakneck pace. While all this achievement has made us stronger and healthier than ever before, there are two major issues that have arisen because of it. …
About the Author
Breaking the fourth wall to briefly introduce myself Before I write anything about how to take care of your smile, I first felt the need to introduce myself and explain a little about my background. My name is Ryan Burkhart. I am entering my fifth year pursuing a degree in chemistry at Muskingum University, a …
Dentistry 101 