Ayurveda in Dentistry

Ayurveda, the Indian system of medicine literally means ¿knowledge of life¿. It includes art of living, science of health and philosophy of life. Though more than 5000 years old, it is by no means an outdated science. Even today, people of India think and live according to principles of Ayurveda. Dentistry is one of the recognised sub-specialities of ¿Shalakyatanträ i.e. surgery of head and neck, which is one of the eight recognized specialities of Ayurveda. The principles of Ayurveda are based on sound scientific principles, which would remain as eternal truths. Ayurveda believes in treating the man as a whole. Hence Dentistry was specially taken up at postgraduate level. Naturally, every ¿Dantashastrajnyä i.e. Dentist was well versed with ayurvedic medicine and surgery. As local measures and surgical treatment constitute important therapeutic measure, Dantshashtra was a surgical sub speciality. Even today¿s dentist styles himself as dental surgeon and not as a physician.In this book, an attempt is made to dig out the golden mine of Ayurveda in field of dentistry, so that hidden wealth of knowledge can be easily digested, absorbed and utilised by the dentists all over the world.