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Thread: Dentist?

  1. #1
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    Dentist?

    I was working on a crew billeting matrix last night, and I realized something. I don't know if this has been brought up before but, let me just say it. Why are there no Dentist (DMDs) seen in Starfleet?

    Doctors (MDs) we have seen, Nurses we have seen, but no Dentist.

    Or for that fact we haven't seen Physicians Assistants, or Corpsman.

    Medical Assistance, yes. But the above in bold, no.

    Why is that?

  2. #2
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    Actually we have seen one non-Starfleet dentist, an Ellora (I think) who worked on Adar Ruafo, replacing one of his teeth with a handy screw in one

    Of course while the Sona are technologically more advanced in many areas, they might be behind in dentistry?

    Specifically what do you mean by 'physicians assitant' - is that an auxiliary doctor or a nurse, or something else.. of those first two you see plenty in TNG.. is this a specific military thing, or an organisational person (assistant) in which case i suspect it's down to the specific doctor as the advanced computer presumably handles many of those tasks.
    Ta Muchly

  3. #3
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    Physicians Assistant

    It's best described as the LVN of RNs . . . equivalant wise.

    Basically they are Doctors, but not accredited at the same level as a Doctor is. PAs can prescribe medicines, conduct surgury and several other things that Doctors can do. However, I am not sure what they can't do what a Doctor does.

    As for the dentist . . . why is there not a Dental Corps in the SMEDD (Starfleet Medical Department (I am using a modification of the US Army Medical Department (AMEDD)))?

    As for those task assigned to the computer, that I can understand. Thus why you don't see 91K or Lab Technicians.

  4. #4
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    I would say the closest thing to what you are after is Nurse Alyssa ogawa, Berverly's chief assistanct nurse: you can see her in the operating theature, and doing many tasks around sickbay. She actually even gets promoted to Lieutenant, so she's not just a 'nurse' but a Starfleet officer. However it's hard to know how to take it as you never seem to see ANY non commissioned officers in TNG. The only other example of someone similar would be Kes, but then she's a special case .. There hasn't been (from my memory) anyone else other than Doctors and nurses seen on the show.

    I think there are lab technicians, simply beause sickbay islarger than the 1 set you see on the series (In all the shows except maybe DS9, because in the technical manual it really is that small! ).. there are very very many labs for Dr. Crusher to be working in all on her own However yes i suspect allot of the monitoring can be left to the computer, and we've seen that in several episodes.
    Ta Muchly

  5. #5
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    Possibly medicine and technology has become so advanced that there is little requirement for a dedicated dentist and/or those skills have become part of the training as a doctor.

    Just a thought...

    Regards,
    CKV.
    "It is our mission to push back the darkness from the light and expand the boundaries of knowledge and understanding. That doesn't mean exploring every pleasure planet between here and Andromeda XO."

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Capt. K. Vaughn
    Possibly medicine and technology has become so advanced that there is little requirement for a dedicated dentist and/or those skills have become part of the training as a doctor.

    Just a thought...

    Regards,
    CKV.
    I agree. There certainly are dentists who do the REALLY tricky stuff, but since most treatments consist of only three steps (1. choosing the right equipment, 2. selecting the right setting, 3. point in the right direction ) I don't see a need for a specialised doctor.

  7. #7
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    Knowing what we do about the level of technology they have, I would say a dental regenerator would not be unreasonable, since they also have a dermal regenerator and a machine to knit bones.. so putting a layer of enamel on your teeth with a wave of a magic machine can't be too hard

    More complex surgical operations, such as removing wisom teeth etc would again be much simpler for the advanced technology they have, and they could probably have it done without an anasthetic in less than half an hour.. when you haven't got some guy writhing around at the back of your mouth, close to your main nerve, with a pair of pliers, then yes it's not quite so scary a prospect
    Ta Muchly

  8. #8
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    I can't say I've ever thought about dentits ("doctor of dental services," or DDS, is the proper title, at least in the U.S.) in Trek; however, I think the last three are pretty much spot on. Given the level of Starfleet technology in the 23rd and 24th centuries, there are probably fewer dental specialists in the medical community, as most dental work is likely done with regenerators (and, quite likely, protective enzymes in replicated food and drink).

    The protective and regenerative technologies also probably means that there is little requirement for more invasive procedures, as the vast majority of people will never need to have teeth extracted/replaced. Broken or evulsed teeth are reinserted/regenerated (easily done by a competent general physician or surgeon).

    Cosmetic work may be the only true dental practice left in Trekdom, as children are probably sent to the DDS to have their teeth adjusted and properly aligned (wisdom teeth may actually never need be removed, given the level of technology to properly correct genetic flaws with little extraction).

    Now, other species may have different needs. For example, I could see Caitians/Regulans with specific dental practitioners to ensure that their teeth are in prime hunting shape. I guess it all depends on how important teeth are to the more ritual side of their culture. For my take on Caitians, hunting is an almost-spiritual experience in their modern culture, partly as a rite of passage into adulthood and a connection to their spiritual mastery of the planet.
    Davy Jones

    "Frightened? My dear, you are looking at a man who has laughed in the face of death, sneered at doom, and chuckled at catastrophe! I was petrified."
    -- The Wizard of Oz

  9. #9
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    "I would say the closest thing to what you are after is Nurse Alyssa ogawa, Berverly's chief assistanct nurse: you can see her in the operating theature, and doing many tasks around sickbay. She actually even gets promoted to Lieutenant, so she's not just a 'nurse' but a Starfleet officer. However it's hard to know how to take it as you never seem to see ANY non commissioned officers in TNG"

    Ahem! 'scuse me, but is Chief O'Brien a non-com? I specifically remember him saying something about not being an officer in DS9. Also, Sergei Rozhenko, Worf's adopted father says that he was a petty officer, I believe.

    Cheers

    Tas

    (Nit picker and busy body) :-)
    "Wherever you go....there you are!"

  10. #10
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    You are both right and wrong.. O'Brien is a non Comm... in DS9 - he is a Lieutenant in TNG.. the disparity was never explained hence like I said you never saw Non Comms in TNG
    Ta Muchly

  11. #11
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    Nurses

    Well, these explinations would be sufficient to explain away DDSs (Sorry about the wrong abbreviation regarding this high level of training) . . . but I guess you can choose this as a specialization to the Medical Sciences skill set.

    As for Nurses . . . would they have their own Corps too in SMEDD? Since if you talk to an older RN they'll tell you there's a BIG difference between Health Care and Medicine.

  12. #12
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    There certainly are dentists who do the REALLY tricky stuff, but since most treatments consist of only three steps (1. choosing the right equipment, 2. selecting the right setting, 3. point in the right direction.

    --Ergi
    :Scratching Chin:

    Ponders why the sixth grade sex education class just came to mind.

    :/Scratching Chin:
    Steven "redwood973" Wood

    "Man does not fail. He gives up trying."

  13. #13
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    The U.S. Navy's doctors, nurses and medical administrators are all part of the "Medical Corps," rather than being separate corps unto themselves. Of course, Star Trek never established anything either way, but I'd say that they house all medical personnel under a single "Starfleet Medical" umbrella.
    Davy Jones

    "Frightened? My dear, you are looking at a man who has laughed in the face of death, sneered at doom, and chuckled at catastrophe! I was petrified."
    -- The Wizard of Oz

  14. #14
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    OK . . . I can accept that. I was just looking at the Army Model . . . of there being the Medical Corps . . . and sub-Corps within.

  15. #15
    Quote Originally Posted by redwood973
    :Scratching Chin:

    Ponders why the sixth grade sex education class just came to mind.

    :/Scratching Chin:

    Thank you redwood, I didn't want to say it.
    Phoenix...

    "I'm not saying there should be capital punishment for stupidity,
    but maybe we should just remove all the safety lables and let nature take it's course"

    "A Place For Everything & Nothing In It's Place"

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