MBR_ISSUE 37_Lowres

Malta Business Review
DENTAL HEALTHCARE
Time
Just like with other body parts, our mouth
requires maintenance and at times
treatment. Lack of maintenance may lead
to breakdown, in this case dental caries,
gum disease or worse. A bi-annual visit
involving a check-up and scaling may help
reduce dental treatment. Nowadays clinics
send out reminders and even call you
to make appointments. Online booking
makes it even easier. Time however is
something that only patients can supply
dentists with.
Comfort first!
By Jean Paul Demajo
Many patients toil with the idea of having their teeth
fixed. Some go ahead with it and others don’t. The
main reasons why patients choose not to undergo
the treatment are the following.
Dental Phobia
This is the most common reason for
not visiting the dentist. A history of a
childhood or even adulthood experience
with a dentist that didn’t go too well may
put someone off from seeking dental help
for life. Tooth deterioration proceeds and
things get worse. Years go by and one day
the situation gets too dire and the visit is
a must. The phobia can only be overcome
with a dentist that understands your fear
and one that gives you the necessary time
and effort to help you overcome your fear.
For those that need some additional help,
sedation works wonders!
Extra-Oral Pre-Op
Intra-Oral Pre-Op
Lack of Education
If it ain’t broken don’t fix it. Right? Wrong!
Nowadays with so much awareness we
know better. We must start by taking
our children to the dentist from a young
age and get them into the habit of taking
care of their teeth. Don’t allow the first
appointment of your child to be one when
he or she is in pain. This makes the whole
experience a much more enduring one.
Extra-Oral Post
A Case Scenario
Intra-Oral Post
A middle-aged lady seeks to improve her dentition and overall
smile. She wishes to replace a few missing teeth and also have her
remaining teeth look better. Redoing her old crowns and bridges as
well as replacing her missing teeth made her feel more comfortable
both smiling and eating.
Expense
Dentistry can be an expensive affair. Fillings
and cleaning will surely not break the bank
but when it comes to tooth replacement
or alignment with braces, the expenses
can reach four or five figures. Luckily some
dentists offer payment plans and leeway
for payments. Lengthy treatment plans
spanning 6-9months allow patients to feel
more comfortable knowing the payment is
not done all at once.
The above reasons may lead patients
to have a very uncomfortable
dentition. Lack of comfort on eating
and drinking may lead to a lower
quality of life. With patient willingness
and dedication on both sides of the
dentist-patient relationship this
scenario can be managed very well.
Ask your dentist! MBR
DR JEAN PAUL DEMAJO
Is a dental and Implant Surgeon,
Trained in London working in
private practice in Malta
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