Ethnomedical Approach
According to lecture 3.1 the Ethnomedical Approach is the study of how different cultures see disease and how they treat, prevent, and practice it. In America, biomedicine, massage therapy, chiropractic, herbology, acupuncture, and psychiatry are all known ways of treating illness through an ethnomedical approach. The three sectors of this approach are popular, folk, and professional. Of which, popular sector is known as the first step where the illness is first recognized and may be discussed among friends or family. The next step (folk sector), takes a more holistic approach, where a healer or sacred person shares the cultural values of society with whomever is considered ill. Lastly in western society, advise on healing is taken from a health professional (i.e. in this case dentist) generally in the form of biomedicine and direction for usage and treatment (lecture 3.1).
As Periodontal Disease is concerned in American Culture, popular sectors could mean complaining to peers, friends, and family of soreness or inflammation of the gums, tissues, bones, or teeth in the mouth. The folk sector could involve taking advice or guidance on how to cure the disease through better oral hygiene and dental assistance. Lastly once the problem persists for long enough, the ill person would follow through with guidance from his/her dentist or oral health care professional. The most common routine for plaque removal irritating the mouth is known as deep cleaning. Here the dentist, periodontist, or dental hygienist performs scaling and root planning techniques (NIH). Scaling is done by scraping off the tartar above and below the gum line, whereas root planning gets rid of bacteria where germs gather in the mouth. If the illness persists the oral doctor may use a laser treatment although this sometimes causes more bleeding with inflammation (NIH). From here, the dentist of periodontist may prescribe certain medications to aid in defending the illness.
*Below is a list of possible medications and descriptions for usage
As Periodontal Disease is concerned in American Culture, popular sectors could mean complaining to peers, friends, and family of soreness or inflammation of the gums, tissues, bones, or teeth in the mouth. The folk sector could involve taking advice or guidance on how to cure the disease through better oral hygiene and dental assistance. Lastly once the problem persists for long enough, the ill person would follow through with guidance from his/her dentist or oral health care professional. The most common routine for plaque removal irritating the mouth is known as deep cleaning. Here the dentist, periodontist, or dental hygienist performs scaling and root planning techniques (NIH). Scaling is done by scraping off the tartar above and below the gum line, whereas root planning gets rid of bacteria where germs gather in the mouth. If the illness persists the oral doctor may use a laser treatment although this sometimes causes more bleeding with inflammation (NIH). From here, the dentist of periodontist may prescribe certain medications to aid in defending the illness.
*Below is a list of possible medications and descriptions for usage
However if the disease persists, oral surgery may be strongly recommended by dentist and or periodontitis. If inflammation and deep pockets remain following medication, Flap Surgery can be recommended. This type of surgery involves lifting back the gums to remove tartar and then suturing the gum lines back in place.
*below is a picture describing flap surgery in a step by step process (picture Ashutosh Swain)
*below is a picture describing flap surgery in a step by step process (picture Ashutosh Swain)
In addition to flap, bone and tissue grafts may be recommended to place synthetic bone in areas of previously bone loss to promote continuous bone growth for the future. A technique called guided tissue regeneration is known for this procedure allowing bone and connective tissue to regrow (NIH).
the body
According to Lecture 3.2, Nancy Sheper-Hughes, and Margaret Lock (1987) the body can be broken down into three subsections including: individual body, social body, and the body politic.
(1) The individual body studies how the soul, psyche, and physical matter relate to one another. It also looks at how ones body imagery is portrayed (lecture 3.2) relating to health, well-being, and social integration (N. Sheper-Hughes). In the case of Periodontal Disease you could expect one to portray a look of sour or cringe facial expression in result of pain of the mouth.
(2) The social body represents the body as a machine (reflecting the values or ideologies of a specific culture). In western medicine, society may refer to themselves as "running on empty" implying that one has no energy or is exhausted (lecture 3.2). In past years, we have referred to our bodies as more electrical rather than mechanical as we once did (N. Sheper-Hughes). Someone with Periodontitis might describe a feeling "like someone prying their gums out" or "drilling holes into their sockets" as a way of expressing the inflamed areas of their mouth.
(3) The body politic describes regulation, surveillance, and control of the body. This politic looks at illness as population wide goal in terms of cultural, political, and moral ideologies (lecture 3.2). Dentists recommend patients checkup every 6 months or twice a year to maintain a healthy mouth while straying away from oral illness like Periodontitis.
(1) The individual body studies how the soul, psyche, and physical matter relate to one another. It also looks at how ones body imagery is portrayed (lecture 3.2) relating to health, well-being, and social integration (N. Sheper-Hughes). In the case of Periodontal Disease you could expect one to portray a look of sour or cringe facial expression in result of pain of the mouth.
(2) The social body represents the body as a machine (reflecting the values or ideologies of a specific culture). In western medicine, society may refer to themselves as "running on empty" implying that one has no energy or is exhausted (lecture 3.2). In past years, we have referred to our bodies as more electrical rather than mechanical as we once did (N. Sheper-Hughes). Someone with Periodontitis might describe a feeling "like someone prying their gums out" or "drilling holes into their sockets" as a way of expressing the inflamed areas of their mouth.
(3) The body politic describes regulation, surveillance, and control of the body. This politic looks at illness as population wide goal in terms of cultural, political, and moral ideologies (lecture 3.2). Dentists recommend patients checkup every 6 months or twice a year to maintain a healthy mouth while straying away from oral illness like Periodontitis.
References
Ashutosh Swain. Flap Surgery picture. The dentist. December 1 2013. http://www.the-dentist.org/home/flap-surgery/
Tazin, Karim. "Lecture 3.1 Ethnomedical Systems. Week 3 Ethnomedical Approach". http://anthropology.msu.edu/anp204-us14/schedule/week-3-lecture-1/ (accessed July 24, 2014)
Tazin, Karim. "Lecture 3.2 Culture, illness, and the body. Week 3 Ethnomedical Approach". http://anthropology.msu.edu/anp204-us14/schedule/week-3-lecture-2/ (accessed July 24, 2014)
Nancy Sheper-Hughes and Margaret M. Lock. "The mindful body: A prolegomenon to future work in medical anthropology". American Anthropological Association. 1 (1987): 6-41. http://anthropology.msu.edu/anp204-us14/files/2012/06/The-Mindful-Body.pdf
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research . "Periodontal (gum) Disease: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments ." . http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/OralHealth/Topics/GumDiseases/PeriodontalGumDisease.htm (accessed July 24, 2014).
Tazin, Karim. "Lecture 3.1 Ethnomedical Systems. Week 3 Ethnomedical Approach". http://anthropology.msu.edu/anp204-us14/schedule/week-3-lecture-1/ (accessed July 24, 2014)
Tazin, Karim. "Lecture 3.2 Culture, illness, and the body. Week 3 Ethnomedical Approach". http://anthropology.msu.edu/anp204-us14/schedule/week-3-lecture-2/ (accessed July 24, 2014)
Nancy Sheper-Hughes and Margaret M. Lock. "The mindful body: A prolegomenon to future work in medical anthropology". American Anthropological Association. 1 (1987): 6-41. http://anthropology.msu.edu/anp204-us14/files/2012/06/The-Mindful-Body.pdf
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research . "Periodontal (gum) Disease: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments ." . http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/OralHealth/Topics/GumDiseases/PeriodontalGumDisease.htm (accessed July 24, 2014).