Advances in Dentistry and Medicine

The practice of dentistry today is heads and shoulders beyond what it was a generation ago. Though it’s easy to take many of today’s technological advances for granted, the fact is that in the past two decades we have seen new techniques in dentistry and medicine come about at lightning speed, due to the incredible speed at which technology has evolved.

A century ago dental practices were frighteningly rudimentary at best. Pain medication was ineffective (a shot of whiskey) or potentially toxic (chloroform). Dental surgeries had to have been excruciating, and without antibiotics, any procedure that involved cutting into infected tissue had to have been extremely risky. Today, luckily, we are living in an entirely new environment, in which dentists can study up on the latest techniques via resources like The journal of dental implantology, the Internet and continuing education through seminars and professional conferences.

From X-Rays to Implants

One of the biggest advances in dentistry and medicine came with the advent of the X-Ray. X-Rays suddenly made it possible for a dentist to see what was happening in a patient’s mouth underneath the gumline. This made identifying problems in the mouth much easier and much more exact, thus making treatment much more effective. From this point, advances in dentistry came in leaps and bounds with the advent of cameras that allow for a closeup view inside a patient’s mouth. Now, with the invention of dental implants, patients have the chance to have a great smile without the discomfort of dentures or “partials.” All of this has made for a revolution in dental care, and it’s a very welcome one.

In years past, people had to live with broken or missing teeth and overall poor dental health. Today, the revolution in dental care is benefiting people everywhere, and leading to overall healthier lives, and that is good news for all of us.