Dentistry has lost its purpose, says Slow Dentistry founder
Philosophical challenge from a respected clinician on whether dentistry has lost sight of its core purpose and patient-centered foundation.
Dr Miguel Stanley, founder of the Slow Dentistry movement and leader of Lisbon's White Clinic, argues that dentistry has become disconnected from its core purpose. He describes the profession as suffering from amnesia, having forgotten the importance of its craft and clinical potential over time.
From physicians to mechanics
Stanley contends that dentistry has shifted away from thinking like physicians of the oral cavity. The profession has narrowed its focus to mechanical interventions rather than considering immunology, subclinical infections, and chronic inflammation. This shift has created a gap between dentistry and wider healthcare, limiting how dentists understand and treat oral disease beyond simple periodontal conditions.
Reconnecting with clinical roots
The central argument is that dentistry must rediscover what it was meant to be. By returning to a more holistic understanding of the oral cavity and its relationship to systemic health, the profession can unlock greater clinical potential. Stanley's perspective reflects a broader concern that dentistry has become shaped by compromise rather than guided by its original purpose of treating the biological realities of oral disease.
Frequently asked questions
What does Dr Miguel Stanley mean by dentistry having amnesia?
Stanley argues that dentistry has forgotten the importance of its craft over time and lost sight of what the profession is supposed to be. He believes this loss of purpose has limited the profession's clinical potential and disconnected it from wider healthcare.
How has dentistry shifted from a physician's perspective to a mechanical one?
Stanley contends that dentists have stopped thinking like physicians of the oral cavity and no longer focus on immunology or systemic factors. Instead, the profession has narrowed to mechanical interventions in the mouth, missing subclinical infections and chronic inflammation beyond simple periodontal disease.
What is the Slow Dentistry movement?
Slow Dentistry is a movement founded by Dr Miguel Stanley that emphasizes returning dentistry to its core purpose and clinical roots. It advocates for a more holistic, physician-like approach to oral health rather than purely mechanical treatment.
Why should dentists care about reconnecting with oral medicine principles?
Understanding the biological realities and immunological aspects of oral disease allows dentists to provide better care and recognize connections to systemic health. This approach can unlock greater clinical potential and align the profession with wider healthcare.
