Understanding the Third Most Common Dental Pathology
Jun 27, 2024
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Dr. David Alleman, crack treatment expert, delves into the formation of cracks in teeth, the resulting infections, and how to predictably treat and prevent root canal therapy. Topics include stress-strain relationships, inflammation in dental pulp, early diagnosis of cracks, and paradigm shifts in dentistry.
Understanding dental cracks requires knowledge from engineering, histology, and immunology.
Prevent root canal therapy by allowing pulps to heal and preserving pulp vitality.
Deep dives
Understanding Dental Pathologies
The most common dental pathologies discussed in the podcast are decay, bacterial infections around teeth (periodontal infections), fractures of tooth structure, neoplasms, and trauma. Decay, caused by bacteria, is the leading cause of tooth loss, followed by periodontal infections and tooth fractures. The speaker emphasizes the limited number of common dental pathologies dentists encounter compared to the vast number of potential pathologies in medicine. The discussion highlights the significant role of understanding and managing these pathologies in dental practice.
Engineering Concepts in Dental Fractures
The podcast delves into engineering concepts like stress and strain in dental fractures. By explaining the stress-strain relationship standardized in the 1800s, particularly the modulus of elasticity, the speaker connects dental materials' behavior to mechanical principles. Using examples like steel as an elastic material and play-doh as a plastic material, the discussion illustrates how composite dental materials transform under stress. The explanation of cracks, fractures, and their propagation at a molecular level provides insights into dental material integrity and failure.
Pulp Healing and Root Canal Avoidance
The speaker introduces the concept of allowing pulps to heal by employing advanced adhesive dentistry techniques to seal out bacteria early in the infection process. A key focus is on diagnosing reversible pulpitis versus irreversible pulpitis to determine treatment approaches. By sharing personal experiences of preventing over 90% of teeth from needing root canal treatment, the importance of preserving the pulp's vitality becomes evident. The discussion emphasizes early diagnosis of cracks and the significance of maintaining pulp health for overall tooth health and patient well-being.
Cracks are the third most common dental pathology dentists treat, but treating them in a predictable way requires an understanding of principles from engineering, histology and immunology. How do cracks in teeth form? Why do cracks in teeth cause infection? How can we treat cracks predictably and prevent root canal therapy? In this episode Dr. David Alleman discusses his research process for crack treatment and the results he has seen in his practice for over 20 years.