Defining Critical Medical Anthropology
The approach focuses on how politics and economics shape the overall outlook of human health. It addresses the disparities in the quality of health and care in the presence of social inequalities. Social divisions based on ethnicity, gender, social class, and race often influence ones access to certain heath care with higher potential for disease. Anthropologists take the critical approach when studying how prevalent a certain disease is and discussing ways to prevent that disease. These specific anthropologists have now drawn attention in attacking health issues such as hunger and malnutrition and consistently look for ways to improve such disparities (wikibooks).
As this approach relates to Periodontal Disease
For starters, health care prices would play a key role to rather someone with potential for Periodontitis could afford to seek regular (every 6 months) checkup with their dental practitioner. However, even more expensive heath care is less costly than no heath care at all. In regards to economy, it would be likely to see more patients visiting their dental practitioner regularly given that they and whomever is supporting them is able to find work. As politics is concerned, health care plans granted by the government may increase the likelihood of some people seeking checkup. However, on the other hand could decrease the likelihood of checkup if government officials were to implement more strict or demanding plans in regards to a families financial stability.
Key breakthroughs in dentistry in the last 25 years
Roger Levin, a third generation dentist has worked as such for 25 years now and explains how advances in science, technology, materials research, and other fields have affected dentistry over these past 25 years. In his grandfathers era there was not yet dental insurance, which seemed like a more profitable business design for dentists. However, it turns out that not nearly as many people were able to keep year round visits part of their lifestyle back then. If this were the case in present day, it would be safe to assume more people would lack good dental hygiene and therefore chances of periodontal disease would increase very much so.
With emerging technology (i.e. laser dentistry, cone beam radiology, digital x ray, diagnostic imaging, and intraoral cameras) such as Levin mentions, I consider the Periodontal Disease to be more biomedicalized in western culture. Remember, biomedicalization is defined as the enhancement of bodies and behaviors through medical intervention.
With emerging technology (i.e. laser dentistry, cone beam radiology, digital x ray, diagnostic imaging, and intraoral cameras) such as Levin mentions, I consider the Periodontal Disease to be more biomedicalized in western culture. Remember, biomedicalization is defined as the enhancement of bodies and behaviors through medical intervention.
How Periodontal Disease is presented in American Culture
In my opinion, Periodontitis is presented as being more likely to acquire among those who have live in more poverty and often related to smokers. From that, the disease can be linked to less attractiveness or lower social status. It is unlikely to be portrayed more with one gender versus another. From my personal experience at an assisted living home it was likely to see older residents whom had smoked for years with less teeth and or deeper oral pocket sizes. Also from the days of the series Two and a half men to when he fell off the deep end with drugs, smoking, and alcohol, Charlie Sheen proves that in American Culture sometimes even a rich, once successful actor can be targeted as irresponsible figure whom could care less about how he is portrayed by the media and likely has acquired some form of Periodontal Disease.
References
Cultural Anthropology/Health and Healing. Critical Medical Anthropology. Wikibooks. http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cultural_Anthropology/Health_and_Healing (accessed August 6, 2014)
Picture. "The latest statistics on food insecurity" Community food bank. 2013. http://communityfoodbank.com/hunger-in-arizona/the-latest-statistics-on-food-insecurity-map-the-meal-gap-2013/
Levin, Roger P.. "Key Breakthroughs in Dentistry Over the Last 25 Years." Dentalaegis 6. (accessed August 6, 2014).
Picture. "The latest statistics on food insecurity" Community food bank. 2013. http://communityfoodbank.com/hunger-in-arizona/the-latest-statistics-on-food-insecurity-map-the-meal-gap-2013/
Levin, Roger P.. "Key Breakthroughs in Dentistry Over the Last 25 Years." Dentalaegis 6. (accessed August 6, 2014).