Advertisement Her great-grandfather, A.C. Haug, founded a district dental society in Norway. Her grandfather, Andreas Dahl, was a dentist, and her father, Andreas, now retired and living in Onalaska, was president of a dental society in Illinois.
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Dr. Eva Dahl of Endodontic Specialists.
PETER THOMSON photo
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She is one of a dozen or so family members in dentistry.
The 55-year-old Dahl, who has a bachelor’s degree in general science and a master’s degree in oral pathology and education from the University of Iowa, said she wanted a profession in chemistry but decided to attend dental school at Iowa.
Dahl was only one of four women in her class and finished at the top. When she graduated from dental school, less than 1 percent of all dentists were women, compared with 17 percent today. Almost 45 percent of dental students in the United States today are women.
Last year, when Dahl was president of the Wisconsin Dental Association, a woman was president of the American Dental Association and the current state president is a woman.
“The future for women dentists is excellent,” Dahl said. “Increasingly, women dentists own their own practices, serve as faculty members and deans of dental schools and lead national dental organizations.”
Dahl, who joined Gundersen Lutheran in 1982 and worked there for 13 years, was president of the American Association of Women Dentists and the first woman on the board of the American Association of Endodontists. She also has served on two councils for the American Dental Association.
“I know I provide a very good service to my patients in helping them to good health,” Dahl said. “I also enjoy having a leadership role because I feel I can make a difference.”
Dahl answers some questions about dental health:
How are we doing in our battle with tooth decay?
Americans of all ages continue to experience improvements in their oral health. In 2007, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the most current and comprehensive assessment of oral health data available for the U.S. population.
The report shows tooth decay prevalence has decreased in the permanent teeth of children, teens and adults. More than one-third of children 12 to 19 years old have dental sealants to protect against decay. However, when compared with the CDC’s 1994 assessment, tooth decay in the primary or baby teeth of children ages 2 to 5 years old has increased from 24 to 28 percent.
All children are at risk for tooth decay; however, the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research reports 80 percent of tooth decay is found in only 25 percent of children. Twelve percent of children from families with incomes below the federal poverty line have decay, compared with 4 percent of children from families above the poverty line. In addition, 31 percent of Hispanic children have incidence of decay compared with 19 percent of non-Hispanic children.
The Kaiser Family Foundation “State Health Facts” Web site shows good news for Wisconsin residents’ oral health. In our state, 76 percent of residents have had their teeth cleaned by a dental professional in the past year, compared with a national average of 70 percent. Nationwide, 19 percent of adults have had all of their natural teeth extracted compared with just 17 percent of Wisconsin adults.
How can most people prevent the majority of dental problems?
Most dental disease is highly preventable. Drinking fluoridated water not only decreases decay in children, but can also decrease tooth decay in adults by one-third. Good nutrition based on healthy food choices, limited snacking and minimum consumption of sugary foods is very important. The daily drinking of large amounts of acidic and sugary beverages, especially among teenagers and young adults, can contribute to the development of rampant decay, which can cost thousands of dollars to repair.
Children and adults alike should develop good oral health maintenance routines, including brushing after every meal and flossing daily. Using a mouthguard when participating in sports helps prevent traumatic injuries to teeth. Tobacco products dry the mouth, stain teeth and contribute to oral cancer.
True, oral health care prevention requires a comprehensive approach and must include patient education, observance of healthy dietary habits, regular personal oral hygiene practices, consumption or application of appropriate fluorides, regular dental examinations with professional diagnosis by a licensed dentist, appropriate placement of dental sealants and necessary restorative treatment early in the development of dental disease.
What has been most frustrating for you as a dentist?
After 32 years as a dentist, I am most frustrated by the fact that so many people still have serious dental disease and oral health problems despite so much information being made available about preventive, personal oral health care through dentist offices, commercial advertising, school education, Head Start programs and medical clinics. It is especially frustrating to see very young children experiencing severe and very unnecessary decay. Even though I am a specialist with a practice limited to root canal treatments, I do a general examination on every patient and work to educate every patient on their overall oral health.
Root canal treatment gets a bad rap. Why is that, and it really doesn’t have to hurt, right?
Root canal treatment relieves pain and saves teeth. Many patients ignore early symptoms of pain, sensitivity and tenderness when biting down or chewing until their problems progress to a memorable crisis with an all-night toothache or facial swelling.
Today’s excellent local anesthetics and instrumentation make the treatment experience very comfortable and time-efficient. In fact, most treatments I provide require only one visit, and less than 5 percent of patients have any post-operative problems. The vast majority of patients do not require any antibiotics or narcotic pain relievers in association with their treatment. Endodontists save teeth!
What are the effects of poor oral health on general health?
Recent studies show periodontal or gum disease is a risk factor in pregnant women for premature infant delivery and low birth weights. Recent scientific research suggests a link between gum disease and a variety of universal health conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes.
Oral infections make it more difficult for diabetics to control their blood sugar levels. Since 2006, the Wisconsin Dental Association has used a variety of media and patient education materials to raise public awareness about the impact of oral health on individuals’ overall physical well-being.
For a Q&A with Dr. Eva Dahl, click here.
