Dental around the World
Medical Mayhem
How gross is it?
100

Before modern dentistry, this profession was known for performing both haircuts and tooth extractions.

What is a barber/barber-surgeon?

100

If there is a medical emergency, how can I alert the office on the Amtel?

What is Code Blue?

100

Dental plaque isn't just leftover food. It's actually a sticky, organized community of microorganisms living together on your teeth. What is this community called?

What is biofilm

200

In 1846, dentist William Morton famously demonstrated this substance as a surgical anesthetic, helping change surgery forever.

What is ether?

200

For a conscious patient experiencing suspected hypoglycemia who can safely swallow, this is the treatment you want to give.

What is oral glucose / a fast-acting carbohydrate?

200

Your mouth is home to approximately this many different species of bacteria — and we're talking hundreds, not dozens.

What is 700+ species? 

300

Before toothpaste came in tubes, tooth powders sometimes contained ingredients like chalk, charcoal, and even these crushed shells from the sea.

What are oyster shells?

300

During this emergency, you should NOT restrain the patient or put anything in their mouth; instead, protect them from injury and monitor the duration.

What is a seizure?

300

Aerosols produced during dental procedures can contain saliva, microorganisms, blood, and tiny particles—and may remain suspended in the air after the procedure ends. True or false?

What is true?

400

An ancient explanation for toothaches blamed the pain on one of these tiny creatures supposedly living inside the tooth.

What is a tooth worm?

400

A patient becomes unresponsive and isn't breathing normally. After activating the emergency response and getting an AED, this intervention should begin immediately.

What is CPR/chest compressions?

400

You wipe down the operatory with CaviCide and immediately wipe it dry. Gross mistake! For CaviCide to disinfect properly, the surface must remain visibly wet for approximately this long.

What is 3 minutes?

500

In the 1700s and 1800s, some dentures contained real human teeth. Teeth collected from fallen soldiers after this famous 1815 battle even earned a gruesome nickname.

What is the Battle of Waterloo? 

(Waterloo-teeth)

500

A patient has sudden facial drooping and slurred speech, but 10 minutes later everything seems completely normal. This temporary event is still a medical emergency requiring prompt evaluation.

What is a transient ischemic attack (TIA)?

500

One gram of dental plaque can contain roughly this jaw-dropping number of bacteria. Millions, hundreds of millions, or billions?

What is BILLIONS? (Commonly cited estimates are around 100 billion bacteria per gram.)

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