I haven�t written any fun blog posts for a while; lately all my writing seems to be about new research showing how periodontal disease is related to something bad, usually a type of cancer.� This is much lighter stuff that belongs in the world of pop culture.� Have you ever heard of Isaac Yankem, DDS?� Unless you live in the South or are a longtime fan of fake wrestling, the answer is probably no.� Here is perhaps the most ridiculous, embarrassing portrayal of dentistry in the history of the world (I don�t use my superlatives flippantly; this guy really is the most embarrassing �dentist� ever):
Just in case you believe there might be anything legitimate about his �DDS� distinction, let me assure you that the man formerly known as Isaac Yankem has never been to dental school.� Born as Glenn Thomas Jacobs, Yankem is just one of many stage names the man has borne as a �professional� wrestler.� He gained notoriety in 1997 using name Kane, the supposed younger brother of another, more famous wrestler called the Undertaker.� Yankem is supposedly a very good wrestler who is well respected among his peers, the winner of several championships, and considered by at least some colleagues (e.g. Ric Flair) as the greatest wrestler ever.� I�d love to tell you all about Yankem�s curriculum vitae, but quite frankly his wrestling titles are as much of a farce as his dental degree because WWE wrestling is completely fake.� That�s right WWE fans, it�s all fake and none of it matters.� And even if it weren�t fake, we all know that the Ultimate Warrior and Legion of Doom are the greatest ever, right?
I do want to call attention to the man�s teeth though, which reflect more of a sad reality than a comical stage gimmick.�� In dental school many of my professors referred to Yankem�s oral condition as �Mountain Dew mouth.�� This is the ultimate destination that teeth can reach only after years of riding the neglect and abuse train.� I also suspect a good deal of drug use is involved here; many patients I�ve seen over the years with a history of methamphetamine abuse have teeth that look just like this.� In many cases, extracting every tooth in the mouth and making dentures is the most appropriate treatment.
The takeaway message: take care of your teeth and don�t go anywhere near drugs, especially meth.� You don�t want to end up like Isaac Yankem, DDS.
-Nicolas K. Young, DMD
