
Americans are far more aware of their dental health than they were even a hundred years ago. Though cases of odontophobia, the fear of the dentist as classified in the DSM-IV, still persist, most Americans have no problem visiting their general dentists for regular check-ups and cleanings and even pursue dental health actively in their daily lives. Most Americans are careful to brush, floss, and rinse, even remembering to protect their toothbrushes from bacteria by rinsing them in hot water after each use and replacing them every three months or after illness. This marks an incredible shift in the way we think about oral health. Our teeth are with us as early as six weeks after conception, and should be cared for as meticulously as we care for the rest of our bodies.
Only 100 years ago, about half of Continue reading “A World of Progress in Dentistry”