PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
December 12th 2015
Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or something else, the holiday time is when we all want to celebrate the season, kick back a bit, enjoy a break and treat ourselves and our loved ones. For most of us this includes indulging in rich party foods, candy, chocolate, and the odd tipple (or two!)
I’m certainly looking forward to my Christmas lunch, mulled wine and mince pies!
PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
November 28th 2015
Recurrent mouth ulcers (recurrent aphthous stomatitis) are painful, round lesions that develop on the linings of the cheeks and lips, the tongue or the base of the gums. The tendency to develop these ulcers is inherited. There can be one or many ulcers at the same time, and they can be recurrent. Multiple ulcers are scattered across the lining of the mouth, not clustered.
Approximately 17% of the US population has recurrent aphthous stomatitis, which is classified into three categories:
• Minor ulcers are less than 1 centimeter in diameter and do not leave scars. The sores usually heal within two weeks.
• Major ulcers (also called Sutton’s disease) are 1cm or more in diameter, take longer than minor ulcers to heal and may leave scars.
• Herpetiform ulcers are clusters of dozens of smaller ulcers. This form is rare.
PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
November 14th 2015
Exposure to secondhand smoke at 4 months of age is associated with an increased risk of tooth decay at age 3 years, concludes a study published in The British Medical Journal recently.
There is a high level of dental decay (caries) in deciduous (baby) teeth in developed countries, at a rate of 20.5% in children aged 2-5 in the US and 25% in children aged 3 in Japan. While caries prevention in young children generally focuses on sugar restriction, oral fluoride supplementation and fluoride varnish, some studies have suggested that secondhand smoke plays a role.
PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
October 10th 2015
To celebrate World Smile Day last week oral health charity the British Dental Health Foundation asked everyone to forget the poor weather, terrible traffic, bad service and all of life’s other annoyances and really find something to smile about.
A simple smile can be the most powerful tool at our disposal… and we all have one. It can improve our mood, increase our self-esteem and it is also highly infectious!
So to spread a little happiness for World Smile Day the British Dental Health Foundation put together a short list of sure-fire things to truly put a smile on your face.
PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
August 1st 2015
Over the past couple of weeks at Mark Osmond Dental Clinic we have been hosting some students who are part of the Clinical Exploration Program, here on Provo. This is a great initiative that enables aspiring medical students in TCI to visit various different medical establishments and experience the day-to-day running of the organization. At my clinic the students are able to watch the full range of dental treatments plus see ‘behind the scenes’ at the equipment we use and the strict protocols we follow in order to maintain a hygienic environment and instruments.
PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
July 18th 2015
Great dental news for all of us in Turks and Caicos! Some research recently published in the journal of Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology (UK) has reinforced previous studies in the connection between a lack of sunlight and gum disease. Approximately one billion people globally are estimated to be vitamin D deficient but due to our glorious weather here in TCI we have no excuse not to be getting our full dose.
PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
July 4th 2015
I’ve been asked by several patients about the practice of ‘Oil Pulling’. ‘Is it effective?’ ‘Do I recommend it?’ ‘Is it better or worse than a regular mouth wash?’ I thought this week I would use my column to consider the pros and cons of oil pulling and try and solve some of the mystery and myths surrounding it.
What is Oil Pulling?
It actually dates back thousands of years and is based in Ayurvedic medicine, a traditional Indian system. It involves rinsing or ‘swishing’ oil- typically coconut, sesame or sunflower- around the mouth and teeth for up to 20 minutes before spitting it out with the view being that it removes bacterita and promotes a healthier mouth.
PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
June 6th 201
Can good dental care save money? The short answer is yes! According to some estimates, regular preventive dental care can reduce overall treatment costs by as much as 10 times! Good oral hygiene and dental care, which includes daily brushing and flossing, and regular checkups at the dentist, means less dental problems (and pain!), less chance of losing your natural teeth and over a lifetime can quite significantly reduce the money you spend on your teeth. Additionally, good oral hygiene is proven to help in the prevention of some systemic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease thereby helping maintain good general health and potentially save you money on your general healthcare costs too.
PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
May 23rd 2015
Dental pain can be caused by a number of different factors including decay, gum disease, abscesses or trauma. As an immediate measure I would recommend an over-the-counter painkiller and then a visit to the dentist as soon as you can to determine the exact cause of the pain after which the correct treatment can be carried out and the pain relieved.
Toothache is one of the most common causes of dental pain. It can be from a live tooth or one that is dead or dying; in each scenario the cause may be different.
If the toothache is a sudden, acute pain caused by hot or cold temperatures then is likely that the tooth is still vital (live). It is probably the case that there is an area of new decay which has reached through to the dentine inside the tooth and is causing the temperature sensitivity and the pain. This can also occur if decay has occurred under an existing restoration- a crown, bridge or a filling. Even if a tooth is already filled or crowned there is still the chance of further decay- and therefore the potential for toothache- if the teeth are not cared for and a good oral hygiene regime followed. In all of these cases it is likely that a filling or some other type of restoration is required.
PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
May 9th 2015
When a dentist examines your mouth, they learn a lot about the health of your teeth, gums and other areas of the mouth just by looking. However, what a visual examination does not reveal is what is happening under the gums. Dental X-rays (or radiographs) are able to reveal what is happening inside and between the teeth, and within the bone and so provide the dentist with a fuller picture to faciliate an accurate diagnosis.