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P.S.M. COLLEGE OF DENTAL SCIENCE & RESEARCH

By-Pass Road, Akkikavu P.O.,Thrissur Dt., Kerala - 680 519 (Affiliated to University of Calicut)

DEPARTMENT OF

PUBLIC HEALTH DENTISTRY

SEMINAR REPORT

MYTHS & MISBELIEFS IN DENTISTRY

SUBMITTED BY:-

SMIJAL GOPALAN M

REG NO : DPAJBDS044

IV YEAR PART I

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P.S.M. COLLEGE OF DENTAL SCIENCE & RESEARCH

By-Pass Road, Akkikavu P.O.,Thrissur Dt., Kerala - 680 519 (Affiliated to University of Calicut)

DEPARTMENT OF

PUBLIC HEALTH DENTISTRY

CERTIFICATE

Certified that this seminar report entitled “MYTHS & MISBELIEFS IN DENTISTRY” is a bonafide work done by Mr. Smijal Gopalan M of

Fourth year BDS part 1 during the year.

Regn. No.: DPAJBDS044

Date:

Examiners:

1.

2.

Head of the department

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This work would have been incomplete without the help of many; I would like to convey my heartfelt thanks to all of them for their kind support.

I wish to express my sincere thanks to Prof. Dr. Gopinathan M, Principal of our college for providing me with all the necessary facilities.

I am indebted to Dr. Anila , Head of Department of Public Health Dentistry for her support and guidance throughout this work.

I express my deep gratitude to Dr. Rejeesh, for his valuable suggestions and timely help.

I also place on record my sense of gratitude to all other members of my group for their cooperation and support in completing this work.

Finally, yet importantly, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to my beloved parents for their blessings, my classmates for their help and wishes for the successful completion of this project.

INDEX

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NUMBER TOPIC PAGE NUMBER

1. INTRODUCTION 5

2. TOOTH MUTILATIONS 6

3. TOOTH EVULSION 8

4. MUTILATIONS OF TOOTH CROWN 10

5. MUTILATION OF SOFT TISSUES 15

6. TOOTH FAIRY & OTHER MISBELIEFS 17

7. CONCLUSION 19

8. BIBLIOGRAPHY 20

INTRODUCTION

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Since time immemorial the teeth, the mouth and the face have held a seemingly intrinsic fascination for mankind. They have been and continue to be the subject of many oral and written beliefs, superstitions, and traditions and the object of a wide range of decorative and mutilatory practices. At the same time they have been the cause of considerable suffering for many.

TOOTH MUTILATIONS

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Tooth mutilation practices have been recorded for inhabitants of non-tropical environments, but most of these customs are observed among people living in the tropical regions of the world.These include:-

Non- therapeutic extraction of teeth The breaking of tooth crowns Alteration in the shape of the tooth crowns by filling & chipping Dental inlay work Lacquering & staining of teeth Miscellaneous practices – placement of gold crowns for

adornment purposes

REASONS FOR TOOTH MUTILATIONS

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Basic themes such as initiation identification and aesthetics underlie many of the mutilation customs encountered throughout the tropics.Beliefs and associations ascribed to the practice of tooth evulsions

• Tribal identification• Initiation rite• Sign of manhood or bravery• Differentiation of sexes• Sign of marriageable age in females• Sign or ceremonial rebirth• To ensure a life after death• Aesthetics and fashion• Therapeutic purposes• Sign of mourning• Sign of subjugation• Form of punishment• Cultural mimicry• To enable an individual to spit properly• Local superstition associated with phenomena such as rain

TOOTH EVULSION

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Tooth evulsion describes the deliberate removal of a tooth for ritual or traditional purposes. The various motives underlying tooth evulsion usually have a non- therapeutic basis.In general terms, ritual tooth evulsion is carried out for reasons of identification, religious – spiritual reasons, to signify some life events such as transition from childhood to manhood or womanhood, or for aesthetics & fashion.

METHOD OF TOOTH AVULSIONThe tooth are usually knocked out rather than extractedPlacing a piece of wood or metal against the labial aspect of the tooth crown and then striking the end of this object, from the appropriate direction, with some form of malletPain relieving or anaesthetic measures are not routinely prescribed.

COMPLICATIONS

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Dentoalveolar complications including alveolar bone fracture, damage to mucosal tissues, & fracture of the tooth crown leaving the tooth root insituGross wound sepsis, periapical granuloma, abscess formation, pulp necrosis and bacterial infestation of root canal

MUTILATIONS OF TOOTH CROWN

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Alteration in shape or appearance of teethDone by chipping and filling, dyeing and lacquering of teeth, decoration of the tooth crown by inlays, overlays etc.This custom is confined to anterior teeth of upper and lower jaws

REASONS FOR ALTERING THE SHAPE OF TEETHAestheticsTribal identityInitiation ritualsReligious motivesIdentification with animalsRelated to the belief that at death all people enter a purgatory and undergo a trial of chewing green bamboo. If a person’s teeth are sharp then the bamboo is likely to splinter and pierce the mouth and intestine. If the teeth are smooth the bamboo can be chewed without any ill effects

NUMBER & TYPE OF TEETH INVOLVEDTwo to twelve permanent anterior teethMost affected are central and lateral incisors of each jaw and also the canines

AGE & SEX DISTRIBUTIONCarried out in late childhood and teenage yearsPerformed on both male and female members of society

PATTERNS OF CHIPPING & TOOTH FILLINGIn general the various forms of chipping and filling of the tooth crown primarily involve the mutilation of

• Incisal edge• The mesial and/or distal incisal edge• The mesial or distal surface• The labial face

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• The whole tooth crown

METHODS OF CHIPPING & FILLINGChipping of enamel and dentin with some form of chisel and malletPatients may be restrained by having their head clamped between the operator’s kneesPrior to chipping a piece of wood is placed between the molar teeth to act as a retractor to keep the lips and tongue out of the way

COMPLICATIONS OF TOOTH CHIPPING & FILING

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Immediate complications are:Severe painUnintended tooth fracturePulp exposureLaceration of soft tissuesFatal hemorrhage

Delayed complications are:Pulp necrosisInflammatory periapical pathologyCaries Tooth loss

LACQUERING AND DYEING OF TEETH

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The blackening of teeth using an iron- containing mixture applied to the tooth surface was custom practiced in ancient japanUsed to signify marriage and fidelity in marriage and for aesthetic reasonsSome people blacken their teeth to help prevent tooth decayLacquering involved the etching of enamel for two days using lemon juice followed by the application of black paint, ginger and mangoOther technique include use of iron containing mixture, shellac and spices such as cloves, cinnamon and pomegranate peel

DECORATIVE DENTAL INLAY AND CROWNS

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These practices are usually carried out for the purpose of beatification to signify wealth or to signify some eventThe nature of inlay materials used is hematite, jade, pyrite, turquoise, obsidian and goldThe teeth of Maharajas were reportedly inlaid with glass or pearls

MUTILATION OF SOFT TISSUES

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TATTOOING:- Tattooing of soft tissues is relatively popular in many non-tropical

and tropical areas of the world The gingiva may be tattooed when females reach puberty, become

betrothed, or when they become married It is practiced by men to relieve the pain associated with ‘diseased

gums’. It is believed that tattooing gums has therapeutic effect The technique involves painting the gingiva with a layer of

pigmented material usually carbon which is then impregnated into the gingival mucosa by means of sharp thorns or needles which pierce the mucosa. A blue black colouration is usually achieved

OTHER FORMS OF SOFT TISSUE MUTILATIONS

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Piercing of lips and perioral soft tissues and insertion of materials such as wood, ivory or metal

The temporary piercing of orofacial soft tissues for ceremonial purposes

Uvulectomy Facial scarring

TOOTH FAIRY

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The tooth fairy is only known to exist in the United States and in countries with a similar ethnic background.There are several twists on the tooth fairy that include feeding your teeth to dogs, throwing your tooth to the sun or on the roof, and summoning the help of a variety of animals to ensure that your permanent tooth will grow in properly.Some kids in India throw their tooth on the roof and ask a sparrow to bring them a new tooth. Other children in India throw their tooth at the sun, hoping for a bright adult tooth in return.

OTHER MISBELIEFS

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There are also misbeliefs that tobacco is good for the teeth and gums. A study from Ernakulum district in Kerala State, India, reports that 92% (3013 out of 3261) female tobacco users specified tooth-related problems as the reason for starting to use tobacco. Many tobacco companies take advantage of such a misconception by packaging and Positioning their products as dental care products.

CONCLUSION

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The developed and under developed regions of the tropics comprise a vast repository of beliefs and knowledge concerning health, disease and treatment. Awareness of them is important for those who are involved in the treatment of patients and for those involved in the planning of dental health care delivery system

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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Preventive and community dentistry-2nd Edition- Joseph john Textbook of public health and dentistry by Marya Textbook Of Preventive And Community Dentistry 21st edition-by Hiremath