title: Unconventional dentistry in India - an insight into the traditional methods.
abstract: Unconventional medicine (UM) has been known and practised since the recorded history of civilization. Some unconventional practices may be viewed as "the continuity of traditions, religious beliefs, and even quackery that non-specialists practice." These practices have been associated with religious beliefs and the spiritual domain as well as with the physical domain. In ancient Old World civilizations, UM was performed by skilled experts or wise men; in today's Western civilization, practitioners may or may not be licensed, and some are charlatans. Dentistry, like medicine, is a traditional, science-based, highly regulated healthcare profession that serves increasingly sophisticated and demanding clients. Today, traditional dental practice is dealing with an array of challenges to the established professional system; these challenges are generally termed "alternative" (or complementary, unconventional, or integrative). Genuine alternatives are comparable methods of equal value that have met scientific and regulatory criteria for safety and effectiveness. Because "alternative care" has become politicized and is often a misnomer - referring to practices that are not alternative to, complementary to, or integrating with conventional health care - the more accurate term "unconventional" is used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Yenepoya Dental College, Deralakatte, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Vinita Ashutosh
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Boloor
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Yenepoya Dental College, Deralakatte, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Rajesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hosadurga
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Yenepoya Dental College, Deralakatte, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Anupama
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Yenepoya Dental College, Deralakatte, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Haziel
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jenifer
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Yenepoya Dental College, Deralakatte, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Sruthy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pratap
keywords: Alternative medicine; Ayurveda; Dental; Herbal; Unconventional