On manufactured diseases, healthy mouths and infected minds.

摘要

Our profession takes pride in its successful merger of clinical skills and academic excellence, together with the realization that diagnostic and treatment concepts are not necessarily static ones. Some of our dearly held convictions have successfully withstood the test of time, while others have fallen into disrepute. We no longer replace every missing tooth, treat temporomandibular disorders with occlusal rehabilitations, argue over the "best" occlusal scheme, or ignore the biologic cost of prosthodontic interventions on the oral ecology. We also make a conscious effort to identify gaps in our knowledge and address them through objective analyses and, where possible, research initiatives. We remain scrupulous in our efforts to address our patients' concerns while ensuring that we neither promote nor condone over-treatment.