Nothing But the Tooth

"By starting the book from a humanistic standpoint, rather than a more clinical angle - Dr. Yang is able to immediately humanize a professional often dreaded by the average consumer. She's able to make one appreciate something that for most can feel everyday, reminding them of the intricate, dynamic, and critical choices one is responsible for when it comes to their oral healthcare. In addition to this, she's able to show like any effective communicator how said profession is something interesting and has much to offer, not just for the consumer, but ideologically. Dr. Yang also highlights the shifts in the dental field, including more females and minorities entering dental medicine. Dentist Yang debuts with a pragmatic overview of how patients can navigate the dental care system. To find a good dentist, Yang recommends asking friends for referrals or contacting a local branch of the American Dental Association. She suggests that dental work is expensive primarily because dentists have to recoup student loan debt and the cost of new equipment, but she notes that patients can receive less costly care by seeing a dentist-in-training. Yang walks through common procedures, explaining that root canals are performed by drilling a small opening in the tooth, cleaning the canals that run the length of the tooth, and filling the cavity with a material called gutta percha. Elsewhere, she covers how to get 'that perfect smile on Instagram' by bleaching or getting veneers and how often to visit the dentist--once per year is enough for most, though people who are pregnant or have diabetes may want to go more frequently. The guidance is practical, and patients will appreciate the insight into what it's like on the other end of the drill (""treating your cell phone as a body part"" and ""chronic lateness"" number among dentists' pet peeves). This will make readers' next trip to the dentist a little less intimidating. Dentists and physicians are natural partners in the delivery of healthcare. Dr. Yang explains clearly how dentists are sometimes the first to diagnose disease and direct the patient accordingly. Nothing But the Tooth is about so much more than teeth. Dr. Yang channels her outstanding professional knowledge to help make the world of oral health care accessible for all audiences. Dr. Yang understands the importance of oral health and its connection to overall health. She provides practical and useful information that every dental patient needs for optimum health. If you want to fully understand dentistry and how to choose the right dentist, it's all here in this easy-to-read guide. If you're looking for an informative and practical guide to dental health, look no further than Nothing But the Tooth: An Insider's Guide to Dental Health by Dr. Teresa Yang. This comprehensive guide to the dental profession can help anyone navigate the ins and outs of dentistry, such as how to find a good dentist, when to see a specialist, and why brand name implants matter. As a respected leader in the dental professional, Dr. Yang shares her wealth of knowledge in a way that is accessible to the general public. Dr. Yang's expertise and ability to balance technical information with easy-to-read advice make this book an invaluable resource for anyone. Whether you're looking to improve your oral hygiene or seeking to learn more about dental health, Nothing But the Tooth is a must-read. Dr. Yang will guide you towards making informed decisions about your dental and overall health. This book is a valuable resource that readers will refer to time and time again. In Nothing But the Tooth: An Insider's Guide to Dental Health, Dr. Teresa Yang does what no dentist has ever done - answers the most frequently asked patient questions in simple, easy to understand, and extremely helpful language. Now patients don't need a dental degree to get the best answers to things like 'Why do I need a crown?, ' 'Do I really need x-rays again?, ' 'Why is dental care so expensive?, ' and many many more. This book should be required reading for any dental patient or dental patient-to-be, and it would be a great asset to the reception area of any dental practice. The book blends a doctor's memoir, medical knowledge and other common guiding practices. I recommend this book to all before you go to a dentist. This guide to dental health combines information about fluoride and insurance (or lack thereof) with such fascinating historical nuggets as the ancient use of horsehair to floss and how, more than 4,000 years ago, Egyptians used twigs to make toothbrushes and whitened their teeth with a paste of pumice stone and white wine vinegar. Yang, a dentist for more than three decades, makes a compelling case for the importance of teeth and the medical professionals who take care of them. She gives plenty of tips, including to brush twice a day for two minutes, and look for the American Dental Association seal of approval on toothpastes. For the record, her favorite product is floss, which has been manufactured commercially since 1882. Yang shares buyer-beware advice about heading abroad for cheaper dental work, etiquette advice about dental appointments, parental advice about not sending kids to school with sugary Fruit Roll-Ups, and general guidance about choosing brushes with soft bristles to avoid injuring gums. ""Dentistry is about so much more than drill and fill,"" she writes. Indeed. Throughout my years of working with Dr. Teresa Yang, I have not only found her to be a wealth of knowledge on the subject of dentistry, but also someone who is very passionate about making sure people understand exactly how dental care impacts them and why oral health is so important. I know this book will make a difference for so many patients. With more than 30 years of private-practice dental experience, Yang takes a practical approach to smile care in this book sharing general knowledge of dental health topics. Early chapters address insurance, pricing, finding the right dentist, and brushing and flossing at home. Additional chapters give step-by-step expectations for procedures (like root-canal treatment and implant placement) and discuss dental innovations of the future. Chapters conclude with an FAQ section; an index adds ease of use. Finding a trusted dentist and preventing and addressing tooth and gum disease add greatly to quality of life, so this is a useful resource for every library."