Contour is the only news source dedicated to sharing the dental-student narrative and addressing their holistic needs as they prepare to enter the workforce as dental professionals. ASDA members receive Contour 10 times a year, with combined issues in June/July and November/December.
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January 2025 – Dentistry in Pop Culture
Much of what the general public knows about dentistry, they’ve learned from movies, TV, and social media influencers. Unfortunately, the information is always based on science or even factual. This issue of Contour looks at the fascinating interplay between dentistry and pop culture.
In her article about coconut oil pulling, Salma Atassi (Miami ’25) examines the dangers of dental misinformation on social media. Sruti Sailam (Penn ’26) writes about how social media, films, books, and more have contributed to a negative portrayal of dentistry and offers some ideas on how to use communication channels like TikTok and Instagram to your advantage. A playful but fascinating article by Clarice Michalski (Marquette ’25) tells the behind-the-scenes story of the dental magic in creating characters like Orcs in The Lord of the Rings.
“Dental professionals must guide our patients away from social media myths,” writes Editor in Chief Katherine Burkett, “because dentistry holds a special place in the public’s imagination.”
Check out the January 2025 issue of Contour!