[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: NEW CANON- What['s Up with That?

[Shaun Hately]

On 7 Feb 2004 at 18:31, Ali wrote:

> So, on the basis of one joke on one programme, it's a worldwide joke 
> about our teeth? 

The thing is, it's not just one joke on one program - it's a fairly 
common joke - I can think of another example from 'The Simpsons' - 
when  a dentist terrorises a child by showing him 'The Big Book of 
British Smiles'.

> Quite seriously, I do believe that the British do have a (probably 
> well deserved) reputation abroad for bad teeth. But, like many 
> reputations, it probably nolonger holds much water. Most kids now 
> seem to have braces, and many did when I was growing up. So, whilst 
> adults might have teeth that are more crooked than the average 
> American adult; I don't think the same will hold true for the next 
> generation.

Probably not - this is, as it considered to come into our public 
safety remit, something that has been looked at where I work.

One major difference in dentistry between the US and most other 
Western countries - not just Britain, it's just that Britain is one 
of the other countries Americans have most knowledge of - has been 
that in most countries, purely cosmetic dentistry has been fairly 
uncommon until recently. Children typically wore braces and the 
like only if there was a medical reason to do so - if their teeth 
were so out of alignment has to cause bite difficulties etc.

In the US, purely cosmetic dentistry for children - when braces and 
plates have been used to correct minor aesthetic flaws - has been 
reasonably common since the 1960s. In most other countries, it 
didn't start to take off until the 1980s, or even the 1990s.

> I have no idea how rotten our teeth are in comparison to others. 
> But, for the record, I have no fillings and straight teeth. I regret 
> to report though, that they are yellower than I would like <g>.

Actually British teeth tend to be as healthy as anyone elses on 
earth - the historical differences are basically cosmetic.



Yours Without Wax, Dreadnought
Shaun Hately | www.alphalink.com.au/~drednort/thelab.html
(ISTJ)       | drednort at alphalink.com.au | ICQ: 6898200 
"You know the very powerful and the very stupid have one
thing in common. They don't alter their views to fit the 
facts. They alter the facts to fit the views. Which can be 
uncomfortable if you happen to be one of the facts that 
need altering." The Doctor - Doctor Who: The Face of Evil
Where am I: Frankston, Victoria, Australia