Is being a dentist worth it financially?
“'Worth it'” can mean a million different things to a million different people,” this former dentist starts in a column in the White Coat Investor, breaking down such factors as cost of tuition, time of training, and future returns compared with some other professions', to determine if the path to dentistry is worth what it yields. “My hope is that those who elect to enter the noble profession of dentistry do so because they are motivated by values that transcend finance. That they feel called to work in spite of, not because of, the feeling that it represents the shortest and most optimal path to a predetermined sense of “being a rich doctor.”
The most dangerous candy for teeth
Just in time for Halloween: according to one dental website, some 35% of Americans have experienced candy-related dental issues such as teeth sensitivity, tooth pain, damaged fillings or crowns, chipped or cracked teeth, and jaw discomfort. The top candy culprit, as the name would already suggest, is Jawbreaker. Other oral offenders include Jolly Rancher and Bit-o-Honey.
Patient, could you just not?
Every dental professional has their list of things they wish patients wouldn’t do. Livestrong interviewed several dentists on the topic of aggravating patient habits, resulting in a list that includes lying about home care routines, asking to skip x-rays, not being open about their medical history, and taking calls during appointments.
New antiviral shortens COVID-related loss of taste and smell
Loss of taste and smell are among the more unpleasant aftereffects of COVID-19, and a new drug in clinical trials offers promise for shortening those symptoms’ duration. The antiviral ensitrelvir received emergency approval in Japan last year; Nature reports that one trial of people with mild to moderate taste and smell side effects of COVID-19 indicated a lessening of symptoms.
