Applications of Calculus in Medicine

Applications of Calculus in Dentistry

So What Concepts Are Used?

Applications in Orthodontics

Case Examples

Orthodontist classify mouths most broadly into three categories. Class One, which is twisted teeth, Class Two which are twisted teeth and an over bite, and Class Three, which is twisted teeth and an under bite.

While in theory an orthodontist and an oral surgeon can create a perfect mouth, in reality, they are rarely given the opportunity. Oftentimes orthodontists are charged with correcting the alignment of the points along the curve in order to make them straight. The orthodontist will use functional analysis to determine how the mouth shape curves, what are its points of inflections, and where there is no need for correction.

Rates of change are in integral part of medicine, especially when calculating the rate of blood flow and intravenous drips in a patient. But the use of derivatives, functional analysis, and integration can be used in dentistry, orthodontics, and oral surgery.

What is the Point of Calculus?

Oftentimes throughout the course of this year, I have asked myself, what is the point of calculus. All of those real world examples were for engineers and architects, and while interesting, they had no real impact on me because I'm not going to pursue any of those professions. So as I was looking over my course load for next year, I started to wonder why those pursuing a degree in medicine needed to take calculus, and I came to the conclusion that even when the equations aren't being used, their concepts always are.

Examples

Derivatives and

Parabolas Cont.d

Determining the "slopes" of teeth is seen more in the field of orthodontics. In general dentistry there is also an application for integrals. Integration is usually seen more in x-ray and imaging technology. Digital x-ray machines are able to generate a three-dimensional model of a tooth on a screen using the principles of integration. Some programs even allow dentists to view the cross sections of the teeth for a more in depth examination and diagnosis.

Derivatives and Parabolas

Procedure

So how are these concepts expressed in the different fields of dentistry? The most basic and simple application is that of derivatives. If the human mouth can be viewed as a parabola, and each tooth a specific point along the curve, by calculating the slope of the curve at the point, the doctor can then, theoretically, create the perfect mouth.

Orthodontic treatment varies on a case by case basis. but the basis of each treatment is the same. Realign the teeth in order to create the optimal curve. The wire places pressure on the teeth , bringing them forward, pushing them back, and rotating them so that the slopes correspond to a parabolic shape. If Orthodontics is the process of editing the graph of the curve, oral surgery is akin to changing the shape o the axis' themselves in order to redraw the graph.