Apollonius of Kition and the dislocated jaw

Apollonius  was considered to be the most important of all Cypriot physicians of his time.He lived in 60B.C in the city  of  Kitio, modern  Larnaca...He had studied medicine in Alexandria under the surgeon Zopyrus and belonged to the empiric school of thought.
The fame of Apollonios was spread all over the ancient Greek  world. The medical opinions of Apollonios were considered valid and authentic according to Herodian . Important personalities such as\Strabon, Cicero and Dioscorides have also written positive comments on Apollonios. Although primarily a physician, Apollonios had an interest in surgery and trauma.
Apollonios wrote several books on medicine  but his most important (and the one that survived) is Peri Arthron (On Joints, ) which is a study of the teachings of Hippocrates on the subject. This book was written in Cyprus.
 A copy of this work was found in the library of the Byzantine doctor Nikitas, and it is now kept in Florence.
The book was written under the patronage of the king Ptolemaius of Cyprus c. 81-58 BC. It is divided into three sections written at different times. The first part discusses the dislocations of the shoulder; the second discusses those of the elbow, wrist, jaw and spine, whereas the third and final part discusses the dislocations of the lower limbs. The book includes 30 hand-painted pictures, believed to be copies made from the original book written by Hippocrates himself.
The illustration of the ninth-century Byzantine copy which is now kept in Biblioteca Medica Laurenziana in Florence shows the recommented method of reducing a dislocation of the lower jaw.

A dislocated jaw (dislocated mandible) generally is very painful. The mouth cannot be closed, and the jaw may be twisted to one side. A dislocated jaw is typically caused by the following:

• Opening the mouth excessively wide (such as with yawning, vomiting, or during a prolonged dental procedure)
• An injury

Dislocation is more likely to occur in people who have had previous dislocations or who have looseness of the jaw (hypermobility), which may result from a temporomandibular disorder.

A doctor or dentist typically maneuvers the jaw back into place by hand (manual reduction).

After wrapping their fingers with gauze, doctors or dentists place their thumbs inside the mouth on the lower back teeth. They place their other fingers around the bottom of the lower jaw. They press down on the back teeth and push the chin up until the jawbone returns to its normal location.

Once the jaw is back in place, people are cautioned to avoid opening the mouth wide for at least 6 weeks. For those who have had more than one dislocation, surgery may be needed to reduce the risk of further dislocations. For instance, the ligaments connecting the jaw to the skull (at the temporomandibular joint) can be shortened, thereby tightening the joint.

THE CROCODILE GOES TO DENTIST!!

The bravest dentist in nature is a little bird called Egyptian Plover!
This little bird is also called Crocodile Bird.
According to a story dating to back to the Greek historian Herodotus , the crocodiles lie on the shore with their mouths open, and the plovers fly into the crocodiles' mouths so as to feed on bits of decaying meat that are lodged between the crocodiles' teeth.
.Egyptian Plovers and crocodiles have a uniquesymbiotic relationship.
Because crocodiles can’t use dental floss, they get foodstuck in their teeth.
 All that food rots their teeth and probably causes them some pain.
 When a crocodile feels the need for a good tooth cleaning it will sit with its mouth wide open. The Egyptian Plover bird recognizes this invitation,and if one is nearby it will fly into the mouth of the crocodile, eat the food
stuck in its teeth, and fly away
.The crocs “appreciate” the much-needed dentistry and do not eat the birds The plover gets a meal and the crocodile gets avaluable tooth cleaning: they both benefit.

There are many benefits to brushing and flossing your teeth. First and foremost, you can help prevent tooth decay by this practice. Brushing and flossing also prevent gum disease, which is a primary agent in decaying and lost teeth.

Brush your teeth twice a day . Replace your toothbrush every two months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed. A worn toothbrush won't do a good job of cleaning your teeth.

Clean between teeth daily with floss or an interdental cleaner. Tooth decay–causing bacteria still linger between teeth where toothbrush bristles can’t reach. This helps remove the sticky film on teeth called plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line. 

Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks.

Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral exams.

P.S even a crocodile knows that!

LET'S MAKE THE TEETH WHITER!

Why do our teeth have stains and discolorations?I can give you many reasons and here are some of them:
First we have the so called extrinsic staining  factors like: age, tobacco,red wine, coffee, cola, tea or deeply-colored beverages and food.Superficial extrinsic stains are minor and can be removed with brushing and prophylactic dental cleaning. Stubborn extrinsic stains can be removed with more involved efforts, like teeth bleaching.
 Other types of stains can be caused by antibiotics ,trauma and even too much fluoride.These are the intrinsic stains  those that form on the interior of teeth.Today, thanks to cosmetic dentistry even deep-set intrinsic stains can be removed .
 As a good start it is advised that before using any whitening procedure you should first be evaluated by your dentist to determine which application and program are best for you.
A supervised bleaching procedure that is performed in office and at home have become among the most popular treatment options.
When the procedure is performed entirely in the office, significant color change in a short period of time is the major benefit .In the dental office, before-and-after tooth color is typically measured with shade guides.
While whitening can occasionally lighten tooth color by nine or more shades, most of those who bleach their teeth are likely to see a change of two to seven shades.
 This protocol involves the carefully controlled use of a relatively high-concentration peroxide gel, applied to the teeth by the  trained dentist after the gums have been protected with a paint-on rubber dam and a special light may be used to enhance the action of the agent.. Generally, the peroxide remains on the teeth for several 15 to 20 minute intervals that add up to an hour (at most). Those with particularly stubborn staining may be advised to return for one or more additional bleaching sessions, or may be asked to continue with a home-use whitening system.
 But in other cases, the dentist gets the procedure started during an office visit and then gives you what you need to complete it at home.
Many dentists are of the opinion that professionally dispensed take-home whitening kits can produce the best results over the long haul. Take-home kits incorporate an easy-to-use slower acting carbamide peroxide, which breaks down into hydrogen peroxide. Carbamide peroxide has about a third of the strength of hydrogen peroxide. This means that a 15 percent solution of carbamide peroxide is the rough equivalent of a five percent solution of hydrogen peroxide.

The procedures at home consists of placing the  bleaching solution, in a tray or “night guard” that has been custom fitted for your mouth by your dentist. The bleaching solution is then worn throughout the night. Your dentist should advise you on the appropriate type of application. and on the length of time needed to whiten your teeth, based on the severity of tooth discoloration and your specific needs.

Teeth whitening results are subjective, varying considerably from person to person. Many are immediately delighted with their outcome, while others may be disappointed. Before you embark on any whitening treatment, ask your dentist for a realistic idea of the results you are likely to achieve and how long it should take to achieve them. Expectations play a major role in teeth whitening Also notice that if you have a tooth color filling, the filling will stay yellow and will not be affected when tooth whitener is applied.

Side effects to tooth bleaching? Well, patients have experienced uncomfortable short-term side effects when having teeth bleached like increased temperature sensitivity in the teeth. Another side effect when night guards are used is that it often cause gum irritation.
The general health risks of bleaching systems are minimal as far as your body is concerned.

Pregnant or nursing women are advised to avoid teeth whitening. The potential impact of swallowed bleach on the fetus or baby is not yet known

P.S A smile costs nothing but buys everything !
                 Whiter teeth make a  smile more beautiful!.

Ecological Disaster In Hahotoe (Togo): Population affected by Dental Fluorisis - TH!NK ABOUT IT - TH!NK ABOUT IT - CLIMATE CHANGE - blogging competition

Ecological Disaster In Hahotoe (Togo): Population affected by Dental Fluorisis - TH!NK ABOUT IT - TH!NK ABOUT IT - CLIMATE CHANGE - blogging competition

PEARLY WHITES OR JAPANESE BLACK?

Οne of the most striking customs to Western eyes in ancient Japan was the blackening of  teeth by married women and courtisans as an enhacement of their beauty .The custom rooted in antiquity,had gradually become proof of the married status of women.
Before a new bride entered her husband's home,she visited the establishments of seven relatives to receive dye and then underwent what was called "THE FIRST BLACKENING".Ιts significance is expressed in the adage," as the  colour black never changes,neither does the intimate bond between .a husband and a wife."Blackened teeth were  evidence that a wife had sworn eternalfidelity to her spouse.
This practice called Ohaguro, persisted until the late 1800's.
The main ingredient was a smelly dark-brown colored liquid, made of an acetic acid called kanemizu. This teeth-blackening process was labor intensive. First, in order for the surface of the teeth to hold the dye well, the rind of a pomegranate, or something similar, would be rubbed across the teeth. Once dry, the dye mixture provided a rich black lacquer coating.
Unfortunately, it faded quickly and the process had to be repeated regularly to maintain a beautiful set of blackened teeth, so no respectable woman who cared about her appearance would go more than three days without applying the dye again.

A side effect of this fashion fad was that the die actually did prevent tooth decay!

This practice gradually died out after it was banned by the Japanese government on February 5th, 1870.
Though the Japanese have lagged behind in dental care teeth bleaching procedures are nowadays the most popular cosmetic procedures in Japan. Funny how things used to be quite different…

p.s The next post must be about tooth whitening!!

Apollonia of Alexandria,patron Saint of dentists

In  one of the great churches of Rome there stood a shrine dedicated to St.Apollonia..Men and women would travel from far away to ask for the assistance of the saint  to give them relief from dental pain.
Prayers were recited to give them refuge from the suffering of the diseases of the teeth .
Who was St.Apollonia?
During the reign of the Emperor Philip when  the persecution of Christians began in Alexandria  ,in  Egypt while most of the Christians were fleeing the city, abandoning all their worldly possessions,an old deaconess, Apollonia, was seized. The crowds beat her, knocking out all of her teeth. Then they lit a large fire and threatened to throw her in it if she did not curse her God. She begged them to wait a moment, acting as if she was considering their requests. Instead, she jumped willingly into the flames and so suffered martyrdom.
Legend has it that as she was being consumed by the flames she called out that those who suffered from toothache and invoked her name would be relieved of their suffering.
Following her martyrdom, Apollonia , on February 9th, 249 AD, was born the saint and icon of comfort for any who suffer a toothache. made a saint by the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Coptic Christian church.
A cult associated with  St.Apollonia developed relatively quickly in Europe,most probably because of the ubiquitousness of dental ills.
Apollonia is always shown holding a forceps with a tooth grasped in its beaks and by studying her iconography we can see that the instruments used then ,are not much different from  the ones we use today.

P.S Apollonia is honored as the patron saint of dentists, but this woman who had her teeth extracted without anesthetic surely ought to be the patron of those who dread the chair!!

WHAT ARE DENTAL SEALANTS?

Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings that are applied to the grooves on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to protect them from tooth decay.
Most tooth decay in children and teens occurs on these surfaces.
The back molar teeth are  shaped differently than the rest of our teeth and contain quite a few pits and grooves. These pits and grooves prove harder to brush well and don’t allow for harmful food and drink substances to slide off as easily. Due to the structure of these teeth, the majority of dental restorations (fillings, root canals, and crowns) occur on molar teeth.
Sealants protect the chewing surfaces  by making the tooth  surface smoother  thus keeping germs and food particles out of these grooves.
Permanent molars are the most likely to benefit from sealants. The first molars usually come into the mouth when a child is about 6 years old. Second molars appear at about age 12.
It is best if the sealant is applied soon after the teeth have erupted, before they have a chance to decay.
The sealant  coating makes the tooth  surface smoother so there is   less opportunity for food particles to get trapped and a barrier for bacteria to penetrate.
A sealant can last for as long as 5 to 10 years. Sealants should be checked at your regular dental appointment and can be reapplied if they are no longer in place.
Sealants  save time, money, and the discomfort sometimes associated with dental fillings. Fillings are not permanent. Each time a tooth is filled, more drilling is done and the tooth becomes a little weaker.

Sealants are one part of a child's total preventive dental care. A complete preventive dental program also includes fluoride, twice-daily brushing , wise food choices, and regular dental care.

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