Nour Seleem

How could we forget this new story? Walter Palmer, an American dentist, traveled to Zimbabwe to hunt big game and killed one of Hwange National Park’s most prized lions, Cecil. Palmer hit Cecil with a compound bow and then finished him off the next day with a rifle. Palmer claimed that he didn’t know Cecil was such an important attraction at the time of the killing, but this didn’t stop the public outrage that ensued when word got out about the “Lion Killer.”  Angered animal lovers and conservationists protested Palmer, even vandalizing his home and gathering outside his dental practice in Minnesota.

Nearly 600 veterans who have received care at Tomah VA medical center in Wisconsin may have been exposed to Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, or HIV after receiving care from one particular dentist. You don’t need to go to dental school to know that tools need to be properly sterilized between patients or disposed of altogether, as VA rules require. The medical health provider put veterans at risk by using his own equipment, improperly cleaning them, and then reusing them. The dentist simply resigned and refused to speak to investigators.

Male students in the dentistry school at Dalhousie University made degrading comments about women online, sparking an investigation by the university president. The students, who belonged to a controversial Facebook group, rocked the DU administration, inciting more than 200 students to march in favor of expelling the authors of the comments. After having their clinic privileges suspended, the responsible parties were allowed to graduate. The incident cost the university more than $600,000 in total. 

Dr. Howard Schneider of Jacksonville, Florida was accused of abuse and malpractice, particularly to children. Medicaid paid him per tooth pulled, crowned, or capped, so he would do more work than needed just to receive more money. Schneider has been accused of pulling out seven teeth when only one tooth needed to be pulled. In 1995, Dr. Schneider was also apart of a malpractice suit, accused of unnecessarily placing 16 crowns in a 3 year old’s mouth. 

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Dentists are hardly seen as the edgy rebels of the medical industry. In fact, a career in dentistry usually comes with a clean reputation and rarely makes headlines. But like any demographic, there are outliers. Below are dentists who have made the news for the wrong reasons. 


4 Regrettable Times Dentistry Made the News

Over caffinating, poor diet and even pets can negatively affect your sleep patterns.

Life can be stressful, but sleep shouldn’t be. Tossing and turning through the night doesn’t have to happen when there are ways to take control of your sleep. Follow these tips to wake up well rested, energized, and prepared to take on whatever life throws at you.

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Many times, coffee in the morning is what keeps America’s workforce energized. There is nothing wrong with a little caffeine, but once you’re six hours away from bedtime, it must be avoided. Even chocolate, some types of tea, and sodas should be dodged.

Usually sleeping better requires more relaxation and less movement, but exercise is critical to getting better sleep. By finishing a work out three to four hours before sleeping, you will get a burst of energy to finish up your day and then be able to rest easy. Your body and mind will definitely thank you!

Overall, eating right has profound effects on your body and your sleep patterns.  Eating heavy meals at night could overwork your digestive system and even cause acid reflux. Not to mention after eating a big meal, trying to sleep may be uncomfortable. Large meals should be eaten at least three hours before bed. If you’re hungry before bed, eat a light and healthy snack.

Setting is everything! About two to three hours before bed, dim the lights to get your body and mind in the mood to sleep. Lower light signals the brain to produce melatonin, the hormone that helps you to sleep. It also helps to sleep in complete darkness.

Not only do the lights on phones and televisions affect sleep, but the stimulation keeps your brain racing. Articles, videos, shows and pictures are all reasons many people are not getting enough sleep. Turn off your phone and television before you even get to bed so your brain can rest. If you use your phone as your alarm clock, turn your phone on airplane mode so there are no temptations.

Who knew a harmless glass of wine could negatively affect sleep? Alcohol can irritate breathing problems, such as snoring, and lead to increased bathroom trips that will make it difficult to sleep.  It also blocks REM sleep, which is considered the most soothing type of sleep. With less REM sleep, you could wake up feeling groggy and tired. If you’re going to drink, drink alcohol three to four hours before sleep to eliminate these side effects.

Your beloved pet is a part of your family, but Fido could be causing you to have trouble sleeping. Dander, fleas, fur, and pollen could cause allergies while trying to sleep. Any sudden movements from your pet could even disturb your slumber. As painful as it might be, it is best if they sleep in their own space so you can wake up invigorated and have the energy to play with your pal.

Whether it’s roommates, a snoring partner, or a loud city, keeping a bedroom silent isn’t always easy. To achieve a silent space, try ear plugs, a neutral fan, or even a white noise machine to make it easier to sleep.

Many times, staying up during weekends and sleeping in is the light at the end of the workweek, but it may be doing more harm than good. Staying up and sleeping late can shift your body’s natural clock similar to the way jet lag does. This is why it’s hard to fall asleep Sunday nights and makes Monday mornings extra hard. By keeping a consistent sleep-wake routine, your body will get used to your bedtime, leaving you feeling more rested.

If symptoms persist for a month or more, you should see your doctor. There could be an underlying health issue, like chronic fatigue or sleep disorder, or a side effect from a medicine you are taking.

Being a dentist is hardly limited to patient care after a long day of managing your team, practice, treatment plans, finances (we could go on for days!), sleeping well is usually not on the schedule. However, maintaining your health is the only way to be the best dentist for your patients, so take it as seriously as you take your business. Continue below for some better sleep practices you can implement today. 

10 Tips for Better Sleep

In an urbanized world, it is hard to find a place of solace away from the big city and be close to nature. Luckily for nature lovers, there are still places to travel to take in all the beautiful parks, nature reserves, and wildlife. Travel off the beaten path and see what the United States has to offer. 

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7. Oneonta Gorge (Multnomah County, Oregan) 

This wonderful place has hikers rejoicing about its breathtaking views. 

From the road, visitors follow the streambed upstream for a short 2.7 miles. This destination is even considered a botanical area by the U.S Forest Service because of its unique aquatic and woodland plants.

6. Death Valley National Park, California 

The name may be unappealing, but the experience is definitely better than it sounds. The 3.3 million acre park is home to colorful sandstone canyons, mountain-sized sand dunes and below-sea-level salt flats. This park also boasts the title of the hottest and driest place in North America, so be sure to stop by during autumn or springtime for the most comfortable temperatures.

5. Antelope Canyon, Arizona (Antelope Canyon, Arizona)

This striking Navajo Tribal Park located in Navajo nation is a magnificent site for nature lovers and photographers alike. You could bear witness to the astonishing effect that flashfloods had on Navajo sandstone. The slot canyon has attracted visitors since 1987 and will surely continue attracting visitors for decades to come.

4. Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky (Mammoth Cave, Kentucky)

This is the world’s longest known cave system with more than 400 miles explored. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its mammoth size, and visitors have the option of touring the cave, canoeing, horseback riding, bicycling, hiking and much more. This destination is sure to please all types of nature lovers.

3. Denali National Park & Preserve (Denali National Park & Preserve, Alaska)

This is one of Alaska’s most popular outdoor attractions. You can see Mt. McKinley, the continent’s highest peak, or observe wildlife such as, moose, caribou, grizzly bears, sheep and wolves. Renting bikes to explore the park and hiking are both popular activities.

2. Acadia National Park (Acadia National Park, Maine)

Home to the largest mountain and the first national park on the East Coast! You can enjoy rocky coastlines, mountains, forests, ponds, marshlands and fields all in one park. There are cottages, cabins, and homes to choose from if you decide to stay the night to fully take advantage of this beautiful park.

1. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii)

Hawaii tops the list as the best travel destination for nature lovers. This state attracts visitors from all over the world for its beaches and other natural beauties, but Hawaii Volcanoes National Park really is the hottest place to go (pun intended). There are three active volcanoes: Hulalai last erupted in 1801, Mauna Loa last erupted in 1984 and KÄ«lauea is currently erupting. Flowing lava is visible from land and even the Pacific Ocean. Not only could you watch lava simply flowing from KÄ«lauea, but also join a hiking or boat tour to watch the lava flow.

Being in nature is shown to lower blood pressure, boost the immune system and improve your mood. So if you're looking for a last-minute summer trip, consider these seven destinations for a stress-reducing vacation. Continue below to find out DMD's top nature destination picks. 

Travel Destinations for Nature Lovers

In the countries on this list, oral disease affects citizens of all ages. 

	There are 195 countries, 7 billion people and an estimated 210 billion teeth all around the world.

	Thanks to factors such as income inequality, geographic circumstances and limited access to health care, there is also a lot of opportunity for poor oral health. We’ve compiled a list of countries with the worst oral health around the world. Featuring nations from across four continents, this list will surprise even the savviest dental professional. 

	This Eastern European country has one of the highest tooth decay rates in the world. The average amount of decayed, missing, or filled teeth for children under 12 is a shocking four teeth. This country is considered to have the worst oral health in all of Europe.

	This country nestled in the middle of South America has some of the worst oral health in the region. Twelve-year-olds have an average of four decayed, missing, or filled-in teeth. A 

 also suggests that only 50 percent of students own a toothbrush. 

	This Western country may come as a surprise on this list, but its statistics earn it the number 3 spot. Nearly half of all 6-year-olds have tooth decay in their baby teeth. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children between ages four and 15 are more likely to experience dental disease. 

	This subcontinent with over a billion people was bound to make the list. India’s 

reports that 95 percent of all adults have gum disease, and 50 percent of citizens don’t use a toothbrush. The program also noted that 70 percent of children under the age of 15 have dental caries. 

	This island nation located in between the South China Sea and the Philippine Sea takes the cake (literally and figuratively) of the worst oral health in the world. The Philippines College of Dentistry found that nearly 90 percent of Filipinos suffer from tooth decay. Another astonishing finding is that nearly 100 percent of children between 3 and 5 years old have cavities. For a country that is less than half the size of Texas, those are some staggering numbers!

Oral health inefficiencies should be treated similiarly to a health crisis. The 

ral diseases]'s impact on individuals and communities, as a result of pain and suffering, impairment of function and reduced quality of life, is considerable."

While education and preventative measures are a key to curbing the impact of poor oral health in these coutnries, access to care to treat current and future cases is another major hurdle.

WHO goes on to state, "Traditional treatment of oral disease is extremely costly, the fourth most expensive disease to treat in most industrialized countries. In low-income countries, if treatment were available, the costs of dental caries alone in children would exceed the total health care budget for children.

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Oral disease is a health crisis that leaves its mark on communities around the globe. Though staggering regional oral health disparities exist in the U.S., its overall rate of toothlessness and decay comes nowhere close to these five countries. Take a look below to find out which nations are affected the most by poor oral health. 

5 Countries with the Worst Oral Health

1. Humans were in Europe earlier than previously thought through 

By analyzing two infant teeth found in Italy, scientists learned that humans were on European continent as early as 43,000 to 45,000 years ago. This challenged what was originally thought to be the oldest human specimen, which was an estimated 37,800 to 42,000 years old. The teeth also proved that humans and Neanderthals coexisted in Europe for about 13,000 to 15,000 years.

 of DNA from our closest extinct relative showed an individual who suffered from a dental abscess had been chewing on poplar. Poplar bark has salicylic acid, an active ingredient from which aspirin was originally derived. The age of the sample ranges from 42,000 to 50,000 years old, which makes it the oldest dental plaque ever genetically analyzed.  

Credit: Paleoanthropology Group MNCN-CSIC

 3. Some Neanderthals were likely vegetarians

Although poor dental hygiene is rarely a good thing, it has led to the discovery of some Neanderthals’ 

 and lifestyles. Scientists scraped tartar off teeth from several Neanderthals and revealed varying diets.  Some Neanderthals from certain areas were heavy meat eaters while others were vegetarians.

4. Neanderthal teeth tartar hints at smooching history 

A microbe called Methanobrevibacter oralis, which is found in modern humans, was found in Neanderthal teeth tartar. This suggests that Neanderthals and humans swapped spit, but whether they were kissing or sharing food the world may never know.

Modern humans are not the pioneers of the toothpicks — picking at teeth is a prehistoric pastime. Neanderthals used toothpicks to clean their teeth and relieve pain from gum disease. This is the oldest evidence of toothpicks, and the toothpicks were likely thin sticks or rigid stalks of grass.

Once upon a time long, long ago, prehistoric man roamed the earth. Thanks to the teeth they left behind, anthropologists have made huge strides in recent years in uncovering their customs and way of life. Teeth are often the only surviving remnants of the prehistoric past, and using modern analysis and DNA extraction methods, researchers' understanding of human history is becoming more sophisticated. Read on to discover what stories teeth have to tell. 