Question:
On the local news here in Philly they just had a report on some new type of
procedure for doing root canal work. I was distracted and missed most of
the story but it has something to do with some new way to seal the tooth?
Anyone see this story or know what I'm talking about?
This brings me to another question. Which dentist should a patient have
more faith in, a dentist who has been in practice for decades or a dentist
with less experience but is more likely to be the one who is up on the
latest dental techniques? Do the older dentists read up on the latest
technology or go to training courses? Are they required to? Currently
searching for a new dentist and just wonder what qualities I should look for
in a good dentist.
Answer:
There is actually no way to tell how good a dentist is by his age.
Though assuming a dentist fresh out of school knows more 'up-to-date'
info is not accurate at all. Students are taught a 'curriculum'. This
material has to be proven over the long term, and adopted by the dental
school faculty. The latest news won't be included in much of it.
Ten years of experience can sure expose a dentist to things that dental
school did not.
Some dentists get out of school and expand their knowledge and skill,
while others get in a rut and never change.
I don't know how to tell you which is which.
I would like someone with 15+ years of experience *IF* they have kept
learning and improving over that time.
My music teacher had the shakes but was very good at making violins. How
would that be with dentistry? Shakes might come from alcohol use or too
much coffee or nicotine?
After age 45 the eyes don't have such a good depth of focus any more,
which may restrict the amount the head can be moved with telescopic
googles?
Does the new camera technology make up for it? And the laser diagnostics,
air abrasion, and computer designed and cut fillings?
And how good is digital x-ray which only doses 10% of the old film dose?
Composite fillings are more technique sensitive than amalgams.
Should you choose someone advertising anesthesia, or someone with a low
failure rate for root canals?
There is more to it than age, check the book, `The Whole Tooth', which I
think I have mentioned before.
