Giving Thanks...

Reflecting on the Thanksgiving holiday, The Dental Maven was wondering…what was dentistry like for the pilgrims?

There were no dental or medical schools at that time. Barber-surgeons and apothecaries ministered to all things medical and dental with absolutely no academic qualifications. Treatments included herbals, extractions, amputations and lots of bloodletting. (George Washington died in 1799 after “doctors” removed roughly 2.5 quarts of his blood over a 13 hour period --- for a sore throat.)

At the time of America’s first Thanksgiving, “teeth” were listed as the 5th leading cause of death- -most likely from infections and botched treatment attempts. Scurvy, a severe lack of vitamin C, was a big problem for the original colonists with tooth loss a frequent outcome.

Although toothbrushes have been around since the 15th century, the practice didn’t really catch on here in America until after WW II. During colonial times it was believed that cavities were caused by toothworms. (egads!) The concept of preventative oral care was not even on the colonial radar screen.

Filling materials hadn’t been perfected, so most decayed teeth progressed to toothache and then removal. All manner of home remedies would be exhausted before submitting to the barber-surgeon. Without the benefits of antibiotics or anesthesia, pulling teeth had to be pretty dramatic. Although primitive extraction pliers had been developed, these instruments focused more on speedy removal (for obvious reasons) with less emphasis on accuracy. Root tips often remained after the top of the tooth was broken off by the force of the instrument.

Replacing missing teeth was rarely considered, so even the wealthy had gaps in their grins. When in public, Queen Elizabeth I used cloth to fill the holes in her mouth to improve her appearance. Rarely will you find a portrait of a beaming king or queen from the 17th century.

A world without cell phones, internet, DSW and Victoria’s Secret is hard for The Dental Maven to imagine, let alone no dental care! So this year The Dental Maven adds “Modern Dentistry” to the list of things she’s thankful for!

Dental Mavenomics

Thanks to the brain trusts responsible for our current economic crisis, The Dental Maven’s 401K is now a 201K. Such a rosy outlook demands a review of personal income and outgo. Here are some strategies to consider before the years end:

Increasingly, employers are offering health savings accounts (HSA) and flex spending accounts (FSA). These use pre-tax dollars for medical and dental care and often much more. The Federal FSA even allows camp expenses for dependents of working parents. Sweeeet. Be sure to check soon since “benefits open season” is typically held at the end of the year. Kiplinger.com has a cool tool on its website to help calculate your potential savings. Click here to see how you’d fare.


Millions of dollars are squandered each year because patients don’t understand the rules of insurance. Most dental policies have a yearly maximum. That means you typically get about $1000 or $1500 in your benefits “bank” each fiscal year. When the year ends you forfeit anything left over and your insurance company gets to keep it!!! So if you need a crown or a filling or if the economy has set your teeth on edge and you’re contemplating a night guard - DO IT BEFORE December 31st! There’s a reason why, in every major city, there is a very large building owned by an insurance company.

Studies consistently show that a large percentage of individuals covered by dental insurance don’t see a dentist during the year. DUDE! What are you thinking???

You’ve heard that old “ounce of prevention” adage. Here’s patient X’s story. X believes a reasonable recall interval is one which considers leap year status and whether celestial bodies are in proper alignment. X was last here nearly 3 years ago –-- but who’s counting. X’s x-rays showed a wisdom tooth which was lying on its side and pressing against the tooth in front of it. (here’s why dentists get all worked up about wisdom teeth…) Pressure from the wisdom tooth coupled with a difficult to clean area caused a gigantor sized cavity on the adjacent tooth. Now X needs the wisdom tooth removed, a root canal on the decayed tooth followed by a filling and then a crown. MAJOR COIN. Two years ago, X was probably looking at removing the wisdom tooth and a regular filling for the cavity.

Look, The Maven’s heard all the tired (and, so NOT FUNNY) claims preferring colonoscopies and childbirthing over dentistry. PLEASE! Anyone still saying that hasn’t seen a dentist since Nixon was president. Bottom line: maximize your available benefits and keep up with maintenance. ‘Nuff said.

Whoopi Goldberg: Actress, Comedienne, Author and now: Dental Ambassador

Why is it that messages coming from non-traditional sources have the most impact?

Whoopi Goldberg, cohost of ABC’s “The View,” recently delivered a powerful, honest and informative message to her audience. She spoke frankly and with trademark humor about the emergency gum surgery which kept her off the show for a day. Whoopi, who said she’ll lose her teeth due to gum disease, begged her audience not to make the same mistake she made.



Discussing the well known link between oral and total body health, Ms. Goldberg stated the heart and immune system are both affected by gum disease. In addition, dental health has also been positively linked to: stroke, diabetes, pancreatic disease, premature and low birth weight babies. Medical professionals have embraced this research. The Dental Maven frequently receives requests from the medical community asking for dental clearance before a patient has a surgical procedure. Surgery may be delayed if The Maven has not seen the patient within the last 6 months.

A recent study by the American Dental Association in cooperation with Crest and Oral B found that 33% of Americans think bleeding from brushing is normal. What? If every time you scratched your eye it bled, would that be normal too??? Bleeding gums are a sign of periodontal disease, exactly what Whoopi is suffering from. Ignoring it can jeopardize more than the health of your teeth.

It was nothing short of courageous and unselfish for Whoopi to share her personal dental problems with the world. The dental community has tried to bring this critical information to the fore, but, let’s face it, we totally lack that kind of star quality! The Dental Maven would like to extend her deepest gratitude to Whoopi Goldberg for getting this important message to the masses.