Difference between revisions of "'Introduction'"

This approach represents an invitation to overcome the limits of traditional dental conventions, proposing a model of understanding and treatment of masticatory disorders that is truly interdisciplinary, based on principles of open and inclusive science, oriented towards the acceptance of uncertainty, and the holistic evaluation of the patient.

This section introduces "Masticationpedia" by setting a historical and philosophical context based on Thomas Kuhn's theory of paradigm shifts within science, specifically his ideas on how scientific progress is punctuated by periods of revolutionary change<ref name="KuhnStructure">Kuhn, Thomas S. "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions." Univ. of Chicago Press, 2012. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Structure_of_Scientific_Revolutions]</ref><ref>[http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/thomas-samuel-kuhn/ Treccani, "Kuhn, Thomas Samuel"]. Or Wikipedia, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Kuhn Thomas Kuhn].</ref>. It details how recent technological and methodological "Innovations"<ref name="Heft2019">Heft MW, Fox CH, Duncan RP. "Assessing the Translation of Research and Innovation into Dental Practice." JDR Clin Trans Res. 2019. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31590599]</ref>, particularly in the field of dentistry, have prompted significant changes in scientific thought and practice, sometimes leading to challenges in established scientific certainties due to overlooked conceptual ambiguities<ref name="ExposureScience">"Exposure Science in the 21st Century. A Vision and a Strategy." Committee on Human and Environmental Exposure Science in the 21st Century; Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology; Division on Earth and Life Studies; National Research Council. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK206806/pdf/Bookshelf_NBK206806.pdf]</ref><ref name="Liu2014">Liu L, Li Y. "The unexpected side effects and safety of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies." Drugs Today. 2014;50(1):33-50. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24524104]</ref>. Kuhn's framework is employed to discuss how science evolves through a series of discontinuous paradigm shifts rather than continuous progression<ref name="KuhnStructure" />, highlighting the cyclical nature of scientific advancements and setbacks as they pertain to masticatory science. The discussion elaborates on three critical phases of paradigm change—Normal Science, Crisis of the Paradigm, and Scientific Revolution—as they apply to the field of dentistry<ref name="KuhnImage">Image Source: "The phases of paradigm change according to Thomas Kuhn." [File:The phases of paradigm change according to Thomas Kuhn.jpg]</ref>, underscoring the transformative impact of new paradigms on scientific inquiry and medical practice. This narrative sets the stage for understanding the complex interactions between scientific theories and the practical realities they aim to model, particularly in the dynamic field of masticatory rehabilitation.