Texas dental journal
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Texas dental journal · Oct 2009
Biography Historical ArticleThe curse of discovery: pioneers of dental and medical anesthesia.
The current practice of dental local anesthesia remains founded upon drugs and techniques that were developed over 100 years ago. 2009 marks the 125th anniversary of the pioneering use of cocaine as a topical anesthetic and the introduction of nerve block injections in the oral cavity and facial region. Four famous clinicians are recognized in this article, each for their unique contributions to "modern" local anesthesia (Carl Köller, Sigmund Freud and William Halsted) and general anesthesia (Horace Wells), with the recognition of the adverse impact of drug dependence on their personal lives, which fortunately did not preclude their positively revolutionizing the practices of dentists and physicians and their patients every since.
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Texas dental journal · Aug 2009
Innovation in dental education in Texas: The University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston.
Innovation has been an integral part of The University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston and its approach to educating dentists since the school's origin in 1905. Its history is rich with examples, such as a modular, self-directed curriculum and a general practice-based patient care delivery system. ⋯ As the school looks ahead to a new building by 2012, additional advances and innovations are planned to follow. This article takes a look at the past, present, and future contributions by UTDB to innovation in dental education.
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Poor oral health affects more than just the mouth. It can seriously compromise a person's general health, quality of life and life expectancy. Oral diseases can and do lead to systemic problems--damaging other parts of the body and resulting in the need for expensive emergency department visits, hospital stays and medications. ⋯ This challenge must be approached as a shared responsibility--among dentists, allied health professionals, primary care providers, policymakers, community-based organizations, parents and schools. The job is too big--and too important--for any one group to try to tackle alone. The time to act is now.
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Texas dental journal · Aug 2007
Case ReportsSympathetically maintained pain presenting first as temporomandibular disorder, then as parotid dysfunction.
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic condition that usually affects extremities, such as the arms or legs. It is characterized by intense pain, swelling, redness, hypersensitivity in a region not defined by a single peripheral nerve and additional sudomotor effects, such as excessive sweating. ⋯ Only 13 cases of CRPS involving sympathetically maintained pain in the head and neck region have been described, and all reported trauma as the identifiable etiologic factor. The case presented here is another occurrence of sympathetically maintained pain in the head and neck region, but without nerve injury as a clear initiating factor.