The singer Patti Smith was the recent commencement speaker at the Pratt Institute in New York.  She took that opportunity to speak of dental care.  No kidding!
Here is the YouTube link: http://www.theawl.com/2010/05/the-patti-smith-pratt-commencement-speech.
Here is her quote: “My greatest urge is to speak to you of dental care.  My generation had a rough go dentally.  Our dentists were the Army dentists who came back from World War II and believed that the dental office was a battleground.  You have a better chance at dental health.  And I say this because you want at night to be pacing the floor because your fuse is burning inside of you, because you want to do your work, because you want to finish that canvas, because you want to help your fellow man.  You don’t want to be pacing because you need a damn root canal.  So, floss.  Use salt and baking soda.  Take care of your damn teeth.”
Great words of wisdom! - but the audience laughed.  She was spoofing the commencement speech.  But who gets the last laugh?

Red hair color is caused by variants of the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) gene. People with the MC1R gene variants experience more dental anxiety than do people without the MC1R gene variants. They are also more likely to avoid dental treatment than those without the variants. The MC1R gene that is found in people with red hair is also part of the pathway that processes pain and anxiety. Thus the connection between red hair and fear of dental pain. Local anesthesia is less effective for MC1R redheads, and this lack of effectiveness may lead to increased anxiety for the patient and consequently, dental avoidance.

Approximately 11 – 20% of the population experiences extreme dental care-related anxiety, with another 45% reporting moderate degrees of dental care-related fear. Despite advances in technology to reduce discomfort, these fears persist and prevent people from seeking dental health.

A recent study reported in the July, 2009 Journal of the American Dental Association concluded that the natural red hair color and MC1R gene variants are associated with increased dental care-related anxiety, fear of dental pain and avoidance of dental care. In my Long Island dental office I evaluate all patients for dental care-related anxiety and take appropriate steps to make sure they are comfortable. I’ll now take extra special care with my red-haired patients!

Today women comprise 35.5 percent of all new active private dental practitioners compared to 19.2 percent of all active private dentists. A dentist is a new dentist if she graduated from dental school in the last ten years. Things have certainly changed! When I graduated from dental school, women comprised 10% of my  class, up from 1-3% in the years before. Many women dentists work only part-time in order to combine work with family responsibilities. Often women work as associates rather than managing their own practices.

For over 86 years, the American Association of Women Dentists has supported women in dentistry. It was initially a social group, but it adapted to changing times and member concerns. For example, the AAWD guided members after World War II when women dentists lost positions they held while the men were overseas. The AAWD is today a national network for employment opportunities and scientific exchange.

Why go to a woman dentist? Studies show that women dentists spend more time with their patients, communicate better and are more compassionate.  So call my East Setauket office today and meet a Long Island woman dentist!