Articles

PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
14th February 2015

A recent study conducted by University College London found that the memory and walking speeds of adults who have lost all of their teeth decline more rapidly than in those who still have some of their own teeth.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, looked at 3,166 adults aged 60 or over and compared their performance in tests of memory and walking speed. The results showed that the people with none of their own teeth performed approximately 10% worse in both memory and walking speed tests than the people with teeth.

PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
17th January 2014

 

Happy New Year to all my readers and patients! 2015 is already shaping up to be a great one! I always like to start the year with a review of the basic steps in maintaining great, healthy teeth and gums. I like to remind my patients that it isn’t difficult, it isn’t time consuming and it isn’t expensive. Make the commitment today to really care for your teeth and those of your family!

PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
13th December 2014

In this, the second column looking at how your smile can be improved, I look at the use of veneers, crowns, bridges, dental implants and orthodontics.

If teeth are more heavily restored (have a lot of fillings), are discoloured or out of place then one possible solution is the option of veneers and/or crowns. A veneer is a thin porcelain cover designed to go on the outside surface of a tooth. Veneers are only used on front teeth and are generally used for cosmetic purposes, for example to restore chipped or broken teeth, or to change the colour, size or shape of teeth. The teeth generally require a small amount of preparation.

PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
29th November 2014

A healthy, white smile is an asset for anybody, professionally and personally but you may have noticed as you get older that your teeth have changed; they may have lost some of their whiteness and started to take on a more yellow/ brown or grey colour. This is normal and comes with aging, as the tooth enamel becomes worn and less translucent due to tiny micro-cracks and the dentine inside the tooth becomes thicker and darker. You may also be more aware if irregularities and an uneven smile as the teeth may be displaying signs of wear, the teeth may have moved (drifted) or there are restorations placed in the teeth. So, how can you get that perfect smile?

PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
15th November 2014

Following on from my last column, this piece continues to look at issues you might be experiencing in your mouth and their wider implications for your general health.

Ulcers/ Recurrent Sores: Stress, compromised immunity (common), Oral cancer (less common but serious)
When an open sore in the mouth doesn’t go away within a week or two, it always warrants visiting a dentist or doctor. Although it is common to suffer from mouth ulcers when we are stressed and our immune system is suppressed, if a problem area persists, this should be checked. Look out for raised sores with red or white borders as well as bleeding and numbness. More than 30,000 people are diagnosed with oral cancer every year, most over the age of 60. Cases are often detected late and if you are a smoker your risk is increased.

PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
18th October 2014

I was interested to read that a new survey conducted in the UK, found that tooth decay affects over 10% of three-year-olds, a number which rises to 25% by the age of five. Public Health England researchers checked the teeth of nearly 54,000 children at nurseries, children’s centres and playgroups and found 12% of children had evidence of tooth decay. These youngsters had an average of three teeth that were decayed, missing or filled. Although we don’t have the studies done here, this is definitely something that I see here in Turks and Caicos, particularly amongst certain segments of our community and there are definitely some things we can learn from the UK.

PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
4th October 2014

It is no surprise that we all find bright, white teeth more attractive than dull, brown or grey teeth; white teeth are associated with youth, as well as cleanliness and health.

Dental whitening (or ‘bleaching’) is a cosmetic procedure which uses hydrogen peroxide to change the colour of teeth and help return you to a whiter smile.

PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
20th Sept 2014

A study has recently been published in the British Dental Journal which looked at the brushing advice given by different dental ‘authorities’ including dental associations across ten countries, toothpaste and toothbrush companies and in dental textbooks. They found a surprisingly wide range of recommendations on what brushing method to use, how often to brush and for how long.

PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
6th September 201

Coffee and wine are beverages that many of us enjoy every day, or- for some of us- even more frequently! For a long while medics have debated the potential health risks and benefits of both of these substances, often coming to very different and even contradictory conclusions. Focusing particularly on the dental aspect here, there have recently been a couple of studies on the impact of both of these drinks on teeth.