Oral Health B2C - Q1 2020

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DR NIGEL CARTER OBE, ORAL HEALTH FOUNDATION “The mouth is widely considered to be the window to the body” » p2

BRITISH SOCIETY OF DENTAL HYGIENE THERPISTS “Gum disease affects 45% of the adult population” » p4

PETER MCCALLUM, BRITISH ORTHODONTIC SOCIETY “What should you be looking for from your provider?” p4

Oral Health HEALTHAWARENESS.CO.UK

“We all know to do things to keep our heart, lungs and organs healthy, but we often neglect the mouth!”

The Singing Dentist p6

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Healthy mouths make better bodies, better smiles and better lives

Time to stop brushing oral health aside

Oral health continues to be one of the most neglected areas of global health.

The tragedy is that oral disease is a silent epidemic afflicting some 3.58 billion people—more than half the world’s population—while it’s largely preventable.

The mouth is widely considered to be the window to the body, as illnesses often present first in the mouth. Developing a strong oral health routine can help protect you against harmful diseases, improve your overall physical health and lead to a better quality of life.

WRITTEN BY: DR NIGEL CARTER OBE Chief Executive, The Oral Health Foundation

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voiding dental issues like gum disease can reduce your risk of strokes, diabetes, heart disease and other serious general health conditions. Good oral health can also have a positive effect on your mental wellbeing, social life and success in the workplace.

Being proactive is key - taking ac t ion s a nd m a k i n g p o s it ive changes before being faced with issues, rather than after.

Sadly, dental disease is far too common. One in three adults suffer from tooth decay, two in three have signs of plaque, while 3.5 million people regularly endure oral pain.

The good news is that great oral health is achievable for everyone.

This is the very message our charity will be sharing during this year’s National Smile Month.

Starting on 18 May, the campaign that champions the importance of a healthy smile, will be encouraging everyone to take simple steps towards better oral health.

This involves twice daily brushing with a fluoride toothpaste, cutting down on sugar consumption and paying regular visits to the dentist.

It’s never too late to make positive changes to the health of your mouth.

During National Smile Month, we’ll be giving the nation lots of advice and support so that we can change the landscape of oral health in the UK. Getting treatment the right way Gone are the days of Brits being said to have notoriously bad teeth. The vast majority of people understand the value of a great smile and more are exploring ways to enhance theirs. Worryingly, not all are going to a local dental practice to do this.

Cheap and quick treatment from alterative avenues may seem like a smart, consumer-savvy decision initially. However, the consequences of having treatment done by people who aren’t qualified can be painful,

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Teeth whitening, and orthodontic treatments are both acts of dentistry and not something that can be picked up in a few hours, days or months long-lasting and expensive to fi x.

Teeth whitening and orthodontic treatment are both acts of dentistry and not something that can be picked up in a few hours, days or months.

It’s always best to seek any kind of cosmetic treatment through your local dental practice. This means that any risks are kept to a minimum and you can benefit from years of experience and expertise.

Taking action against mouth cancer Another benefit of seeking dental treatment from your dentist is that they can give you a potentially life-saving check for mouth cancer.

The disease has claimed the lives of over 2,700 people in the UK over the last twelve months and many experts believe this number will continue to rise.

With that in mind, it’s extremely important to keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary in or around your mouth. The sooner mouth cancer is caught, the more likely we are to beat it.

Look out for long-lasting mouth ulcers, red or white patches, and unusual lumps and swellings. If you do spot something, it’s crucial you see a dentist, dental hygienist or dental therapist as soon as possible.

In some cases, a simple visit to a dental practice could save your life.

WRITTEN BY: GERHARD SEEBERGER President, FDI World Dental Federation

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ral diseases, such as dental caries (tooth decay), gum disease and oral cancer, are the most common forms of preventable noncom municable diseases (NCDs) and affect people throughout their lifetime, causing pain, discomfort, disfigurement and even death. Our collective failure to prevent oral disease are estimated to cost the world economy some US$442 billion each year.

Much of the neglect is down to one main barrier: high treatment costs.

Oral diseases are the fourth most expensive diseases to treat and are most often paid for by the patient outof-pocket. On top of that, the political impetus to change this scenario has been sadly lacking. And that is in part because, historically, we have been treating the “mouth” separately from the ‘body’. The oral health profession has largely existed as a separate specialty, divorced from medicine and medicine’s education system.

This has unfortunately affected the way oral healthcare has, and continues to be, delivered—separate from the primary healthcare system.

However, things are changing: they needed to In the 2011 United Nations (UN) Political Declaration on NCDs, oral disease was recognised as a major public health problem that

WRITTEN BY: KATIE DAIN CEO, NCD Alliance Oral health deserves its place at the global health table.

Oral diseases, such as dental caries (tooth decay), gum disease and oral cancer, are the most common forms of preventable noncommunicable diseases could be addressed through joint responses with other diseases.

The 2019 UN Political Declaration on Un iversa l Hea lt h Coverage (UHC) goes one step further with Heads of State and Government committing to ‘strengthen efforts to address oral health.’

This is a breakthrough commitment from countries, and the next steps are vital: we’ve got to bring oral health along as a normalized part of the conversation around policies on NCDs and UHC and of the surveillance mechanisms. In short, we need to change both the community and government mindsets—the belief that poor oral health is just a ‘tooth’ problem.

Oral disease is a big part of a largely preventable disease burden a nd c a n be a pre c u rsor to or indicator of many other NCDs. Oral disease shares common risk factors with other NCDs including tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol and unhealthy diets, especially those high in sugar. Oral diseases are also a s s o c i a t e d w it h a nu mber of other NCDs, such as diabetes, cardiovascular d i s e a s e, r e s p i r at or y d i s e a s e , a n d gastrointestinal and pancreatic cancers.

The ongoi ng i nten se debate around sugar taxes and more broadly speaking, obesity levels, especially in children only illustrates the fallacy of working in silos and the need for policymakers to take a much more universal and connected response.

Child obesity is indeed an epidemic as are childhood caries Consider the figure: 340 million children worldwide are overweight or obese. That’s nearly four out of five kids everywhere, compared to one in twenty in 1975. A study by UNICEF found that children with the highest sugary drink intakes are those most likely to be overweight.

Alarm bells are ringing when 44% of children around the world drink soft drinks every day with no nutritional benefits at all, whereas a third don’t eat fruit on a daily basis.

But this burden is multilayered, with some 486 million children suffering from caries of primary teeth. Yet the benefits to children’s oral health of reducing sugary drink consumption via a tax for example, have been too often ignored when discussing sugary drinks and their links to the obesity epidemic. When benefits related to oral health – including better learning outcomes at school and improved mental health and wellbeing – and lifelong lower risk across a range of NCDs are properly taken into account, the argument for policy action is even stronger.

Portugal’s National Programme for the Promotion of Oral Health might be a model for other countries to make good on the commitment

by Heads of State to oral health in UHC. This programme provides oral health services in at least one primary healthcare centre in each municipality in Portugal to increase access to oral healthcare to those who need it the most, mainly adults with low incomes and their children.

Since the programme launched in 2016, it has achieved encouraging results—more than 60 municipalities in Portugal have now integrated oral health and primary healthcare facilities.

Many people have been able to see a dentist for the first time, thanks to the programme and its preventative response represents a decisive step away from the perceived “drill, fill and bill” treatment approach of modern dentistry.

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Why postgrad dental training has to be state-of-the-art

Why digital dentistry is something to smile about

Oral diseases are becoming more diverse. However, dental practitioners who want to provide their patients more complex, specialist care will require high-quality postgraduate training.

Dentists — and the educational establishments that train them — will have to embrace the growth of cutting-edge digital dentistry technology, or risk being left behind.

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entists who wish to enhance their skills and gain specialist knowledge benefit greatly from postgraduate training, notes Professor Stephen Porter. This provides them with the skills and confidence to provide patients with a high quality of care at a time when oral disease is becoming more diverse.

“Disorders that interfere with someone’s ability to use their mouth to speak, eat, socialise and enjoy life, are on the increase,” says Porter, Director and Professor of Oral Medicine at UCL Eastman Dental Institute, the London-based academic centre for postgraduate dentistry as well as basic and translational research. “There’s rising demand for dental practitioners who can safely provide effective care and treat complex disease.”

At some point, newly qualified dentists will have to decide what kind of dentistry they wish to practice. Do they want to be a general dental practitioner? Specialise a bit in one area or become a specialist as recognised by the General Dental Council?

“If it is to specialise, or become a true specialist a postgraduate course or programme is essential, as these offer concentrated teaching and experience from genuine experts in the field,” says Professor Porter.

Keeping up with the rapid pace of dental advances Dentistry is a fast-moving area of healthcare, which means students and teachers must keep up with the latest state-of-the-art technology and techniques.

UCL Eastman Dental Institute recently invested in £25million state-of-the-art facilities with skills classrooms, new laboratories and a research facility dedicated to clinical, basic and translational research in oral and dental diseases.

INTERVIEW WITH:

STEPHEN PORTER Director and Professor of Oral Medicine, UCL Eastman Dental Institute However, says Porter, while new facilities are important, the quality of teaching and research staff is critical, as is collaborating with colleagues across multiple fields and disciplines.

“High quality, research active academic staff give students the best learning experience — and that, ultimately, will benefit the patient and their families which always has to be the primary aim. There’s a commercial imperative for an educational establishment, like ours, to be at the cutting-edge, because it allows us to attract the top staff and the best postgraduate students,” explains Porter.

“It’s also an exciting place to be, and to know that, from a research standpoint, when a new oral disease is identified we can quickly implement research to provide solutions that will make a positive difference to people’s lives.”

WRITTEN BY TONY GREENWAY

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igital dentistry is revolutionising the dental sector by enhancing learning for students and making the dental experience easier for patients. For example, it’s now possible to take a 3D scan of a patient’s mouth using an intra-oral camera, rather than taking an impression using silicone material.

Then there’s facial scanning technology which can help dentists analyse and improve a patient’s smile. “Admittedly facial scanning technology is in its infancy, but it is coming” explains Professor Lambis Petridis, Head of Prosthodontics at UCL Eastman Dental Institute. Digital tech has had a big impact on Professor Petridis’ own field of Prosthodontics, too — the area of dentistry concerned with the reconstruction and replacement of teeth.

“Take technicians in dental laboratories who make crowns and dentures on teeth or implants,” he says. “Thanks to digital technology, they’re experiencing a huge increase in productivity and can make many more units with less labour.” Simple crowns can be fabricated chairside in one appointment and, if dentures are lost, they can be easily remade because individual patient information is now stored digitally.

New technology complements knowledge and experience So, it stands to reason that dentists — and the educational establishments that train them — will have to embrace digital dentistry going forward, or risk being left behind.

It’s why the UCL Eastman Dental Institute has invested in a dedicated 3D workflow suite to enhance the training of its postgraduate students.

“Digital dentistry will have a big impact on these students’ skills,” says Professor Petridis.

INTERVIEW WITH:

LAMBIS PETRIDIS Professor and Head of Prosthodontics, UCL Eastman Dental Institute “They’ll be better equipped to understand the huge advantages it will offer them and their patients in the coming decades.”

However, he stresses that dental practices still use a mix of analogue and digital procedures, and that while robotics is used in some areas of dentistry, there is still no substitute for human intervention.

“It’s good to be able to offer patients the latest cutting-edge technology,” says Professor Petridis. “But intra-oral cameras and other digital tools are not magic wands — and just using them does not make you a better dentist. Using any new technology requires the knowledge and experience of basic fundamental skills and that is embedded in our core training at UCL Eastman.”

WRITTEN BY TONY GREENWAY

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How to prevent oral disease WRITTEN BY: MICK ARMSTRONG Chair, British Dental Association

Oral disease comes with a multi-billion-dollar price tag. At home and abroad, prevention can unlock health benefits and huge savings.

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orld Oral Health Day provides a chance to look at the facts. Taken together, tooth decay, gum disease and oral cancers now affect almost half the global population. Across the world, 3.5 billion people are dealing with oral disease, and untreated decay is the single most common health condition.

The figures are eye-watering, but For every £1 spent the solutions are straightforward. It’s on prevention in about prevention. It’s what you and your dentist can do together, underpinned nursery schools, by action from government to help us £3 is saved in lower make healthier choices. It boils down to treatment costs good habits, a supportive environment and decent access to services.

The oral health gap By almost every measure, Britain’s teeth are in better shape than they were a generation ago. The challenge is in the deep inequalities that show little sign of closing. It’s the children born in Lancashire that start school with 20 times the levels of decay as those born in Surrey.

North and South, rich and poor, these inequalities aren’t inevitable. Policy makers and the general public need to grasp that oral health is not an optional extra, but a fundamental part of overall health, and impacts on confidence and prospects.

Paying the price for inaction Indifference to dentistry comes at a cost. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that failure to prevent oral disease has made the problem the fourth most expensive condition to treat.

We shouldn’t accept that decay remains the number one reason for hospital admissions among our children. Or the reality in our care homes, where failure to even consider the teeth and mouth has seen residents left unable to eat, drink or communicate. Beyond pain and distress, the result is a multimillion-pound burden on our NHS. There is a way forward Our message is simple. Prevention isn’t just better than cure, it’s cheaper.

Governments in Wales and Scotland have shown much-needed ambition, with programmes that have secured record-breaking improvements in decay rates among children. Tooth extractions are an expensive business, and when every pound spent on supervised toothbrushing in nurseries can generate £3 back in savings, there are reasons to be ambitious.

But action cannot end in the classroom. Over four million adults in England alone are unable to access the NHS care they need. No patient should have reason to bottle up oral health problems, when they can so easily be nipped in the bud at routine check-ups.

The solutions aren’t rocket science, but they require a joint, concerted effort from patients, dentists and from government. Politicians talk about prevention like it’s going out of fashion. It’s our responsibility, together, to make it a reality.

Read more at healthawareness.co.uk

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The whole dental team is vital for good oral health WRITTEN BY: JULIETTE REEVES Dental Hygienist and Member, British Society of Dental Hygeine Therapists

WRITTEN BY: CHRISTINA CHATFIELD Dental Hygienist and Member, British Society of Dental Hygeine Therapists

WRITTEN BY: SALLY SIMPSON Dental Therapist, Past President, British Society of Dental Hygeine Therapists

The role of the dental team in holistic healthcare has expanded and evolved to serve the ever-changing needs of our population.

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dvances in medicine and healthcare mean our population is living longer.

Our diet and social habits have changed, as have the common health problems and illnesses we develop throughout our lives.

We now know that poor oral health significantly impacts our general health, well-being and quality of life.

There is considerable research linking oral diseases and systemic diseases.

Oral health effects general health Association between oral health and general health have been shown to include type 2 diabetes, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney disease, obesity and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Gum (periodontal) disease causes tooth loss and can affect the rest of the body: bacteria passes into the bloodstream, causing systemic inflammation.

Chronic inf lammation is the common denominator between oral health and other diseases. Successful treatment of periodontal disease reduces markers of overall systemic inflammation, improves blood sugar control in diabetes and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Gum disease and diabetes T h e E u r o p e a n F e d e r at i o n o f Periodontology and the World Heart Federation issued a joint statement explaining the latest evidence on the relations between heart disease and gum disease.1 This follows further confirmation that a bi-directional link exists between diabetes and gum disease.

Individuals with gum disease have a higher risk of diabetes, and patients with diabetes are three times more likely to develop gum disease.

Periodontal experts now believe that gum care can aid in diagnosing and controlling a great number of major health problems.

We now know that poor oral health significantly impacts our general health, well-being and quality of life Preventing gum disease Gum disease affects 45% of the adult population in the UK, with only 17% of UK adults having healthy gums. Yet it is largely preventable.

Regular oral health assessments and examinations will allow you to access a team of highly skilled professionals working together to help maintain oral health and provide essential strategies in disease prevention.

It’s not only dentists that provide this ser vice; dental therapists, dental hygienists and clinical dental technicians provide a wide range of screening services. These risk assessments can detect oral diseases and abnormalities and investigate possible links to systemic disease.

They provide essential health e duc at ion, adv ic e a nd dent a l treatment, and have access via referral systems to other dental professionals, specialist care providers, and allied professionals and services should they be required. They are also trained to help you make positive lifestyle changes such as stopping smoking.

The link between mouth cancer and HPV Dental clinicians play a key role in the detection of changes in the soft tissues in the mouth. Examination for mouth cancer is a routine part of a dental appointment.

Mouth cancer (MC) is on the increase due to late detection and the spread of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which is overtaking smoking and drinking as a risk factor. HPV

causes 5% of cancers worldwide but it can be prevented with a simple vaccine. This virus is passed on by sexual contact. 80% of adults carry the virus, which can lay dormant for many years. Carrying the virus does not mean that you will develop MC but we do know that men are more at risk from MC than women.

Protection against HPV (Human Papillomavirus) I n t h e U K , g i r l s h av e b e e n offered vaccination against HPV because of its links with cervical cancer, meanwhile boys were left unprotected.

An estimated four million boys have since passed through the school system and will be at risk of HPV cancers and diseases as they enter adulthood. The NHS vaccination was finally offered to boys in September 2019. The vaccine will help wipe out the virus however, for the many who have missed out, regular dental check-ups are essential for the early detection of this disease.

Mouth cancer kills more people per year than testicular and cervical cancer combined, the earlier it is caught, the more likely it can be treated. Direct self-referral to this wider range of dental professionals in recent years has allowed greater choice and lifted some of the barriers faced by people trying to access the specific care they would like by the person best suited.

References: 1. Sanz, M, Marco del Castillo, A, Jepsen, S, et al.

Periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases: Consensus report. J Clin Periodontol. 2019; 00: 1– 21http://www.efp.org/press/

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Q&A: The Singing Dentist shares his ‘notes’ on good oral hygiene WRITTEN BY: DR MILAD SHADROOH (AKA, The Singing Dentist)

The Singing Dentist, AKA Dr Milad Shadrooh, is a social media sensation as well as a successful dental professional. Here are his words of wisdom on all things oral health.

Teeth straightening - advice from the professionals “The increasing demand for orthodontics in the UK is a reflection of changing attitudes towards dentistry in the 21st century and the importance of a confident smile, no matter what your age,” says Dr Jonathan Sandler, President of The British Orthodontic Society.

WRITTEN BY: PETER MCCALLUM Head of External Relations, British Orthodontic Society

Q: Why is good oral hygiene important for overall health?

A: We all know to do things to keep our heart, lungs and organs healthy, but we often neglect the mouth. I consider the mouth as another organ that must be looked after. It is a complex structure containing hard and soft tissues, muscles, bone, blood vessels, nerves… yet, people tend to pay more money on making their hair look nice!

Not looking after your mouth can have impacts on your health. There are many links now with oral health and other systemic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, even dementia! Not being able to smile or lacking confidence in your dental appearance can be debilitating for many people and I have seen firsthand the effects of having a healthy mouth.

Q: What are your best tips for at home oral care?

A: Firstly, brush twice a day with a quality toothbrush and a fluoride toothpaste. Last thing at night is key, removing the plaque and food debris that has build up. You must also clean inbetween the teeth. Either use floss or interdental brushes, but you must do something daily!

Also, reduce your sugar consumption. Tooth decay is preventable, reducing how often you eat and drink sugary things, improves the chances of not decaying your teeth.

Q: What are the risks of DIY whitening?

A: It’s important to understand that to whiten teeth properly means to see a dental professional. Tooth whitening can only safely and legally be offered by registered dental professionals, regardless of the products used. DIY teeth whitening has three major issues.

One, you may not be ready for teeth whitening. Having a proper assessment of the teeth to see if they are healthy and free from tooth decay or gum disease is key. You may have existing fillings or even some discolouration of the teeth that needs to be assessed.

Two, you might opt for products that just don’t work. Over-the-counter whitening solutions in the UK only contain 0.1% hydrogen peroxide, which is too low a concentration to have any noticeable whittening effect. It may be able to reduce some surface staining, but it will never make your teeth whiter than the natural colour.

Lastly, which is the most serious, is using products that aren’t safe and can cause long-lasting damage to your teeth and gums. Seeing non-dental practitioners or buying stuff from the internet means you could end up having something placed in your mouth that is not fit for purpose and the consequences can be very serious.

So, in conclusion, please see your dentist and talk through all of your options before considering teeth whitening.

Read more at healthawareness.co.uk

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rthodontic treatment – teeth straightening – is a rite of passage for around one third of young people in the UK. Today, a large number of adults want to get in on the act too. A 2019 survey by the British Orthodontic Society revealed that three quarters (75%) of orthodontists are seeing an increase in adult patients.

The demand for teeth straightening can be attributed to a number of factors; rising expectations from patients, celebrities and social influencers who have opted for teeth straightening treatment, and greater awareness of the benefits of teeth straightening treatment at any stage of life.

How it works Orthodontic treatment is carried out to correct irregularities of the teeth or developing jaws and to improve the function and appearance of the mouth and face.

Orthodontic treatment will straighten the teeth or move them into a better position, and this can improve their appearance and the way they bite together, while also making them easier to clean.

If you are considering orthodontic treatment, it’s a good idea to think carefully before you begin treatment and perhaps speak to friends or relatives about their experiences.

Starting orthodontics is a big decision, and it’s never a bad idea to get a second opinion if you are unsure.

If you are considering orthodontic treatment, it’s a good idea to think carefully before you begin treatment and perhaps speak to friends or relatives about their experiences Why visit a professional?

What should you be looking for from your provider? It’s a good idea to ask about their experience of orthodontics and whether they are a specialist. Do they offer a choice of braces? Most will offer traditional orthodontic braces, but some will offer aligners too. Do they see patients on referral? It’s essential that you have a clinician who is responsible for your care.

In recent years there has been dramatic growth in websites offering treatment by post – also known as ‘DIY braces’.

These involve impression kits posted to patients, allowing them to create their own moulds. The manufacturers then use the returned impressions to create and send back personalised aligners.

The whole treatment takes place without seeing an orthodontist or dentist to discuss your needs, having your mouth checked properly, or getting proper advice.

This can be fraught with risk.

After all, what other dental or medical treatment would you undergo without an in-person evaluation or supervision by a medical professional?

More info The British Orthodontic Society and The Oral Heath Foundation have pooled their expertise to launch www.safebrace.org – a trusted space where anyone interested in teeth straightening can find independent and impartial advice about making the right choice.

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from BOS.

© DEAGREEZ

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Tele-dentistry, a reality at your fingertips!

In today’s fast-paced society, we have come to expect most services at the touch of a button. Why should healthcare be any different?

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e are all very busy, and we want things to be as quick and convenient as possible.

Health technology allows for more accessible and immediate knowledge and information to be shared with both patient and professional.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is being used across healthcare to help patients get initial assessments so they are empowered to have full and frank discussions with a medical professional before they even enter the treatment room.

The use of AI in dentistry In dental care, AI can be especially useful. Remote dental screening involves a patient taking a photo on their phone of any health issue, which can be uploaded and checked against a database of oral, dental and orthodontic conditions labelled by do c tor s a nd dent i s t s, a nd identify issues ranging from visible cavities to gum inflammation to orthodontic crowding.

The accumulation of data trains algorithms to recognise any issue automatically, providing a patient with useful information, which may prevent them ever having to come into a clinic.

If the algorithm does identify a potential problem, it prepares a dentist for any consu ltation required, saving time and worry for both parties.

A virtual consultation process also means that conversations are standardised, as everyone is being presented with the same information, regardless of where they live or who they see. Dentists are more easily able to get out and about to reach more patients.

“You can even be talking to people about their oral health at the cricket club, encouraging them to pay attention to their teeth and gums and see a dentist,” says Nick Duncan, Chief Executive of SmileMate, an AI-driven dental screening tool, which uses photo labelling to provide

Data trains algorithms to recognise any issue automatically, providing a patient with useful information, which may prevent them ever having to come into a clinic patients with an objective diagnostic screening report.

Combating concerns about technology We are used to seeing this sort of technology in action, as it involves the same tools Facebook uses to detect who a person is, or captcha forms use when they verify we are a real human.

But people still often feel nervous when it comes to using the technology in medicine.

However, Duncan says: “It is really just an aggregation of multiple, highly-trained doctors who have analysed photos. Rather than being assessed by one professional, who may make errors, you’re being assessed by many, and the failure rate is much lower. ‘ The rea l ba r r ier is soc ieta l attitudes. Can we accept that we are not talking to people? Across healthcare the benefits are huge – whether it’s skincare, tumours or X-rays – and are proving to be far more reliable than humans looking at same records. And remember, the treatment is always delivered by a human. The technology is there – when will society wake up and reap its benefits?”

INTERVIEW WITH:

NICK DUNCAN CEO, SmileMate

Sponsored by

WRITTEN BY FRANCESCA BAKER Read more at www.smilemate.com

Seek out professional expertise for the perfect selfie smile Thanks to social media, our smiles have become hot commodities. Just look at the number of ‘selfies’ we all take, every day: 93 million of them, at the last count. No wonder everyone is looking for the perfect selfie smile.

INTERVIEW WITH:

INTERVIEW WITH:

MONIK VASANT Dentist

RAMAN AULAKH Orthodontist

uckily, the world of dentistry and orthodontics is constantly innovating and evolving, so it has never been easier to make improvements to your teeth — and that includes whitening and straightening them. And that really is something to smile about Yet even though we love showing our teeth to the world at the smallest

(photo) opportunity, it’s easy to take them — and what they actually do — for granted.

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What happens to teeth when they are moved?

Apart from chewing our food, teeth act as one of the most important support structures for the whole mouth, so it’s crucial to take treatment advice

from dental professionals. Take teeth straightening, for example. This has to be done carefully because moving teeth can affect the lip position and appearance of the lower face, and while a smile can look aesthetically straight, the patient’s final bite position is absolutely key. If this isn’t correct, it can cause chipping, headaches and gum recession in the future.

And never forget that teeth are like icebergs: the majority of the str ucture is hidden below t he surface. In fact, what you can’t see is that, underneath the gum, teeth are positioned just millimetres away from nerves. This is why proper alignment involves the position of the root, as well as the tip, to prevent future complications.

Great reasons to consult the dental experts Dental professionals know exactly how each tooth moves. They have

trained for many years to treat w it h i n- dept h k nowledge a nd expertise and continue to grow their skills throughout their careers.

Their finely tuned diagnostic and treatment planning skills achieve the functional and aesthetic results each patient needs. According to dentist Monik Vasant ”Dental professionals can optimise a patient’s tooth straightening treatment plan so they get to their end result efficiently and, importantly, safely.

Not only that, dental professionals have access to advanced technology, such as premium quality aligners used in Invisalign treatment, and are specially trained for it. “This can make the patient’s straightening treatment experience as effective as possible,” says orthodontist Raman Aulakh. “Dentists and orthodontists have their patients’ best interests at heart — and they also have the skillsets and state-of-the-art medical equipment to provide them with the

best treatment for their needs, and ultimately the successful outcome they seek us out to achieve.”

WRITTEN BY: TONY GREENWAY

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