By Gary Winter BDS
If you share the view of the title above my hope is that by the time you have read this column you have an improved attitude towards dental health.
In my practice we struggle to help patients who have lost teeth to carry out the basic functions of eating properly, clear speech and to cope with premature aged appearance.
In New Zealand we pay for dentistry privately. Most dentists try their best to provide a cost effective service knowing that there is a genuine need for those that can't pay. This problem has presently no adequate solutions,
A recent interesting statistic has come out comparing New Zealand's private dentist scheme with other developed countries that have free dental care or insurance based schemes and there is a strikingly similar proportion of people who don't seek regular dental care in all of these countries.
From this one must ask the question "Are there reasons other than the cost as to why people don't seek regular dental care?" Is it; apathy, fear, lack of education, embarrassment, undervaluing ones teeth or maybe a combination of these ideas?
In New Zealand we have the Dental Benefit Scheme to provide free dental care for young people until the age of 18. An excellent service generally well attended yet only a small proportion of this group continue with regular care after the age of 18.
Attendance resumes at approximately mid-20s forced by toothache and badly breaking down teeth. There is quite often the need for extensive and expensive treatment with a group of young people in a low earning capacity. So we go from one of the best child/adolescent dental health systems to a much worse standard of dental wellness in a few years.
For a good proportion of people cost is used as an excuse not to get dental treatment where the truth is competition for the cost of treatment is up against luxury items such as the latest phones, fake eye lashes and nails or mag wheels for the car. It all comes down to priorities with this group.
So, if we let our dental health deteriorate and we lose teeth what are the consequences? Good nutrition starts with properly masticating our food.
Lack of teeth and even dentures prevent us from achieving adequate mastication, loss of back teeth causes overloading of front teeth and ultimately destruction of these teeth, loss of self-esteem and confidence goes hand in hand with the loss of teeth characterized by becoming introverted and not smiling, missing teeth can have a negative impact on success for job applications and promotions.
Applying for positions that require high standards of appearance, public profile and communication can limit one's opportunities, poor gum health can affect the blood vessels to the heart and raise the risk of strokes.
In my experience with careful guidance, planning and raising the awareness of the importance of good dental health, at my practice we have been able to achieve good long term dental health for our patients.
Gary Winter BDS
Principal Dentist at Dental on Raffles