Dentists Around the World

Have you ever wondered what dental care was like in other countries? In the United States, it appears the options are endless with specialists of all kinds to take care of our every need. For this we are lucky as some nations do not have the same freedoms and allowance. With that in mind, we would like to share with you how dentistry is managed in other countries around the world.

Australia: In order to practice dentistry in Australia, a person must first obtain registration and licensing from the nationalized Dental Board of Australia. Only 1% of all yearly applicants pass the dental school admissions into Australia’s undergraduate dental programs.

Canada: In early colonial history, dentistry was rare. In major situations, a barber or blacksmith would pull a tooth. The first recorded dentist wasn’t until 1814. And, dental care is not covered by the Canadian health care system.

Europe: Dentistry is a public service/subsidy provided to most (if not all) citizens to ensure that have access to the dental service they require, regardless of their ability to pay.

Hong Kong: Before the dental school was established locally, most of the practicing dentist received their degree from the Philippines.

Iran: Many dentists are required to either complete two years of military service or governmental service in order to collect enough scores to begin a private practice after graduation.

Sweden: Dental care if provided for free to everyone up to 20 years of age.

Taiwan: Dental school admissions are extremely competitive with only those students who are in the top 3% of their academics are admitted.

At Affleck Dental, we can assure you that only the top trained technicians and dentists are at your service. The history of the world continues to evolve and we are the clinic that will provide you the best smile possible with the best service.

You have options with Affleck Dental!!

Tooth replacement options are comparable to the growth of computers. What may seem ages ago, computers filled an entire room. Thankful for us, tooth replacement options back then didn’t take up your entire mouth. However, they weren’t as seamless, comfortable and flexible in choices as they are now. Some of these choices include dental implants, permanent fixed bridges and bonded bridges. Each option is specifically designed for the individual needs of the person and to increase overall health.

Dental implants tend to be the primary choice for replacing a missing tooth. The implants are made of pure titanium that is completely safe. A screw is first implanted into the jaw bone where the missing tooth is. This screw is specially designed to promote bone adherence. Once it has healed, a cap or crown is attached that has the appearance of a real tooth. This option has a 95% success rate and will last a long time.

Fixed bridges have been around for over 50 years. Even though it may seem like an archaic option with how far medical treatments have come, it remains to be a predictable procedure for patients who have little bone or have loose adjacent teeth. This procedure involves the drilling of the enamel of adjacent teeth, taking an impression and making a permanent bridge across the area where the tooth is missing. Treatment is completed quicker and there are no surgical procedures involved.

There are a few choices for temporary restorations that may also cost less. Affleck Dental recommends visiting a specialist in tooth replacement to determine your options and what will best meet your needs, lifestyle and your budget. Affleck Dental understands the importance of feeling good about yourself and one place to begin is your beautiful smile. 

What to do in case of a tooth emergency?

Dental care often seems to wait till the last minute – yet if not taken care of immediately, may result in a health risk or even permanent damage. With that in mind, Affleck Dental would like to offer you some tips on how to treat common dental problems and what you can do while waiting to get dental help.

1)      Toothaches – Rinse your mouth out with warm water. Use dental floss to remove lodged food stuck between teeth. If you mouth is swollen – apply a cold compress to help relieve the swelling.

2)      Chipped or Broken Teeth – Save the pieces, if possible. Rinse your mouth out with warm water and if bleeding, press a piece of gauze against the area for about 10 minutes or until the bleeding stops. Apply a cold compress for any swelling and see your dentist as soon as possible.

3)      Knocked out tooth – Hold the tooth by the crown and rinse the tooth with warm water if it dirty. Do not scrub or remove any tissue fragments. If possible, place the tooth back in place. If that is not possible, store the tooth in a small contain or milk or water with a pinch of salt and see you dentist within in hour of the mishap.

4)      Lost filling – Stick a piece of sugarless gum into the cavity as a temporary measure and see your dentist as soon as possible.

5)      Lost crown – This can be tricky… there are several temporary measurements you can take until you are able to get into the dentist. But, the first step should be to make an appointment as soon as possible and don’t forget to bring the crown with you. If you are feeling comfortable and it may be a while before seeing the dentist, you can try to slip the crown back over the tooth. Use over the counter dental cement or denture adhesive to help hold the crown down. Even toothpaste will work. Do not use super glue though!!!

Naturally, these are just the more common problems that happen in dental emergencies. Regardless the problem, be sure to contact your dentist or a specialist as soon as possible to resolve the issue and keep you from being in permanent pain or danger.

 

 

Healthy Halloween Treats

Halloween is only a few weeks away. What do you plan on handing out to the kids that come to your front door in hopes that their costume will be frightening enough to scare you into giving them candy, or they look so pretty and dainty that you could never pass up giving them something sweet? Candy is the easiest option these days in our quick-paced world. But the same time, thought and energy it takes to drive to the store, choose the oodles of candy and then wait in line to purchase the sugary snacks can also be used to get healthy options to give out on All Hollow’s Eve. 

Non-food Options

What a better way to encourage a healthy Halloween then to give out treats that aren’t edible. Some of these options include: Halloween stickers; Halloween-themed pencils and other handy items; balloons for the kids to blow up later; bouncy balls, crayons, and toothbrushes. Many of these items can be found at a party store, large super stores or even a dollar store.

Food Options

Perhaps you want to stick with tradition and give the kids trick-or-treating an option they can put their teeth into. Some of these options include: all natural fruit leather; string cheese; granola bars; little boxes of raisins; single serve bags of mini pretzels homemade popcorn in baggies; and of course apples.

 

The possibilities have few limits. You can choose between something fun the child will enjoy for several days like bubbles or a temporary tattoo.  It all simple depends on how creative you want be yourself.

When Should You Call a Dentist

More often than not, people wait till it’s too late to call and make an appointment to see the dentist, yet if they have a cold, they do not hesitate to see their doctor. Proper dental care is just as important as your overall health. With that in mind, we’d like to take a few minutes and break down what falls under dental care versus dental emergency. Just as pneumonia symptoms should be taken seriously, so should some dental issues.

It is highly recommended by most dentists, including AffleckDental, to visit a dentist every 6 months for a cleaning and overall exam. This is similar to preventive checkups you regularly schedule with a physician and should be given similar priority. There are of course other reasons to make an appointment with your dentist:

1)      If your gums bleed when you touch them or while brushing your teeth;
2)      If your teeth are loose or don’t seem to fit together anymore;
3)      If your gums are red, swollen or tender;
4)      If your gums pull or shrink away from the teeth;
5)      Bad breath that does not go away;
6)      Sores that last more than 2 weeks;
7)      Or for a general toothache.

These are all symptoms that when diagnosed soon enough can most likely be treated. There are also times when a person should seek emergency services, such as when a filling or crown is lost or if there as been an injury to the face, jaws or teeth. Irreparable damage can occur if any nerves are exposed for a long period of time. If you have any questions about whether or not you should make an appointment to see a dentist, give us a call and the staff at Affleck Dental will be more than happy to help you out.

Sleep Apnea - There IS a solution!

Sleep Apnea is a potentially serious disorder that occurs when a person’s breathing repeatedly stops and starts again while sleeping. Symptoms of sleep apnea are loud snoring and feeling tired even with a full night’s sleep. The risk factors can be elevated if not treated. Affleck Dental can help you with this.

Some mild cases of sleep apnea may be cured by losing weight or quitting smoking. However, moderate to severe cases of sleep apnea may require additional therapy in order to relieve the obstruction on the air passage way. A CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine is one very successful way to help. The CPAP delivers air pressure through a mask placed over your nose while you sleep. The air pressure is just enough to keep your upper airway passage open so as to prevent apnea and snoring and help you get a full night’s rest.

We understand that sleeping with a CPAP may bring back memories of you sleeping in your head gear – but as you remember – you most like got used to that as well. If your CPAP is uncomfortable or perhaps not working correctly, don’t give up so easily! It may simply require some adjustments to obtain a comfortable and secure fit. There are a variety of mask types for different people and Affleck Dental will work to make sure you have the right one.  For a free consultation, you can call Affleck Dental at 801-782-5010 and get a full night’s sleep in no time!

Back to School

You have probably been checking off your to-do lists for getting your kids back to school… new clothes, haircut, school supplies, register in sports, yearly physical. It may seem like the list never ends, but you may be forgetting an important necessity — bi-annual tooth cleaning to prevent tooth decay and the need for fillings in permanent teeth. Now is the perfect time to make the appointment for your kids, but also to re-assess their current habits.

Brushing twice a day is recommended. And with new kid-friendly toothbrushes and toothpastes, it is easier to get your kids to brush daily. Another idea is to pack a travel sized brush and tube of toothpaste in your child’s backpack so that they are able to brush after meals as well.

It also is crucial that the children are eating and drinking correctly. Sugary drinks and candy during and after school are consistently lingering around enticing children to partake; which also means more trips to the dentist. One way to help deter this behavior is to pack your child a healthy lunch and provide fruits and veggies in between practices.

While Affleck Dental doesn’t specifically provide cleaning appointments, its affiliates do. The staff and doctor from Affleck Dental believe that with proper cleaning habits, and bi-annual cleanings, you and your children will maintain good dental health and minimize the chance of tooth decay.