Dr. Georgia Dounis is a dentist who is fond of quoting Socrates, so she may have found her ideal position instructing students in the clinics of the UNLV School of Dental Medicine. She is a prosthodontist — a specialist in restoring and rebuilding the oral cavity and surrounding structures. In particular, she focuses on patients who have undergone cancer surgery around the face or mouth. Nevada faces a difficult situation in providing oral health care to a booming population, one that often lacks insurance and other means of access. Dounis and the dental clinic are helping address that issue through education, clinical care, and the timeless reminder to brush and floss daily.
Coming
to UNLV: This was a unique opportunity to be a part of starting
a dental school. Our mission is to have an integrated curriculum
of biological, clinical, and behavioral sciences. We're at the leading
edge nationally with our integrated curriculum.
Teaching: As the greatest teacher and philosopher Socrates said, "To teach is to learn twice." With a love of teaching and love of the profession, I am able to share my knowledge with my future colleagues as well as expand my knowledge.
Total Health: The mouth is the gateway to the digestive system and a mirror of other conditions. The muscles, nerves, lymphs — all these systems are interrelated. Oral infections have been associated with systemic conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, and diabetes, just to mention a few. We cannot compartmentalize the oral cavity as if that's it and it doesn't affect any other system.
Candy: If I have candy, it has to be sugarless, maybe gum.
Advances in Dentistry: We have laser dentistry, computerized imaging, diagnostic saliva tests. And there have been many recent advances in materials. Do you still need manual dexterity? Absolutely. However, with the advances of soft- and hard-tissue lasers, some day the laser may replace the high-speed hand piece. And then there's the bioengineering aspect of dentistry. They're growing enamel in a petri dish. It's really, really an exciting time to be in this profession.
Prevention: Dentistry has always been at the forefront of prevention. I think it is a profession that truly is eager to put itself out of business because all we talk about is prevention, prevention.
Oral Health Care in Nevada: The state has made constructive efforts to improve access. But, being the fastest growing state in the country, Nevada is being challenged by the growth. Many people are low-wage earners and either don't have insurance or are under-insured. To find an oral health-care provider who can meet their needs is a challenge. The mission of this institution is to fulfill that need. We provide care to children, the elderly, and all other types of people. We reach both the urban and rural areas. The message is getting out, and I think we have made a considerable contribution to the community. The waiting room, have you seen it? It's packed.
Losing
Teeth: People feel that the loss of teeth is a natural process
of aging. Unfortunately, that is not true. Teeth are here for a lifetime.
Losing them affects the way we chew, the way we speak, the way we
live.
Memorable
Patients: It has been very rewarding to help patients who
are undergoing cancer surgery. One patient was a young lady from
South America. She had a benign tumor that had expanded and she needed
to have her eye and part of her palate removed. She had two young
kids with her and her husband. The day after surgery, I saw her and
she said, "Oh my God, I have turned into a monster. How am I going
to face my children?" The psychological impact was terrible. I reassured
her that we would make an oral prosthesis and that she would receive
a prosthetic eye. She came back a year later and said she was able
to live a very normal life. That stays in my memory as a reminder
of the impact we can have on someone's life.
Reaching
Out: I'm really proud of the work our students and faculty
have done in the community. For example, students recently launched
a program called "Smiles for Success" to serve physically and emotionally
abused women. It is the first such effort in the U.S. that is organized
completely by students, and it will also involve volunteer faculty
and staff.
One
Thing People Should Understand: Oral disease is a silent
epidemic. People don't realize that they have it. Cavities, gum diseases,
abscesses — kids have ended up in emergency rooms due to abscesses.
Researchers have discovered an association that exists between gum
disease and ear disease as well as gum disease and low birth-weight
babies.
Brushing: I
try to follow the recommendations to brush and floss three times a
day. I may have missed doing that, but it's a rare occasion. I try.
I try very hard.
Reaction
to Dentists: It used to be that dentists got a very negative
response. People associated dentistry with pain. Maybe they thought
that they were going to have their teeth pulled. Now we're more into
prevention of disease. With new advances in technology, people are
actually eager to see the dentist. I don't think we have eliminated
dentist-phobia, but at least it's declining.
