Hearing and Dentistry

Hearing (parts of ear )

Outer + Middle + Inner ear

Balance (parts of ear)

Inner ear

Balance Controlled by:

3 semicircular canals positioned at right angles (like a gyroscope)

\-sense changes in body movement as hair cells move, send signal to brain

Balance abnormalities

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• Vertigo (room spinning) \n • Meniere's Disease \n • Labyrinthitis

Eustachian Tubes

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PURPOSE: \n 1. Pressure equalization \n 2. Mucus drainage from middle ear \n - Ear infections are more common in children

Eustachian Tube infection (inner ear infection)

• Bacteria can be trapped if tube swells because of colds or allergies \n • Ear infection can push onto eardrum, causing pain \n • Treatment: antibiotics, time, surgery

Outer ear infection treatments

\-infection caused by bacteria and fungi

Treatment:


1. Wild ginger, roots crushed and liquid poured directly into ear.
2. Yarrow, entire plant steeped and liquid poured directly into ear
3. white milkwort, roots boiled and liquid poured directly into ear

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Wild ginger active compound

Aristolochic acid, antimicrobial

Yarrow active compound

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possibly terpenes (antibacterial, anti-inflammatory)

While milkwort active compound

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1. Saponins \n - cleansing, anti-inflammatory
2. Methyl salicylate \n - analgesic

Tinnitus definition

defn: Variable noise in the ear in absence of external sounds \n - Sporadic or continuous

Tinnitus is caused by

\- Caused by ear infections, drugs, heart disorders, some antimalarials, repeated exposure to loud noises

Tinnitus can cause

Insomnia, lack of concentration, depression, headache

Tinnitus treatment

Gingko, can reduce intensity of noise but clinical studies inconclusive

Caries definition

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Bacterial infections of the tooth surfaces (enamel and dentin) leading to loss of calcium and cavities.

Teeth cleaning in the West

Toothbrush + Paste \n - nylon bristles starting in 1938 \n - previous versions had boar bristles

Teeth cleaning in non-Western countries

\-Chewing stick

\-Twigs, stems, roots

Common Chewing Stick Species:

1. Neem
2. Arak

Chew Stick Use

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) Stick is selected – 15-20 cm in length \n 2) Stick is washed if fresh or soaked if using dried wood (Fibers are softened)

3) End is converted to brush (gnawed or pounded) \n 4) Teeth and gums thoroughly cleaned (sometimes tongue) \n 5) Stick often sucked for several hours after brushing

Chew stick efficacy

* Twigs contain: silica, tannins, resins, alkaloids, chloride


* Tests of aqueous stick extracts show that some species have antimicrobial activity
* Neem contains medically significant amount of fluoride \n WHO recommends use of chewing sticks.

Gum arabic

* Resin
* Contains complex polysaccharides (antibiotic)
* Treats bacterial and fungal infections of mouth and skin

Toothache treatment

P. darienense - Central America

P. corcovadensis - Brazil

Stems chewed, local anesthetic