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5 dental tips to add 10 years to your life

20/4/2015

Use Xylitol
Research has indicated that a baby isn’t born with the bacteria Streptic Mutans, which causes tooth decay, but in fact picks it up from their caregivers within the first six months of their life. The caregiver should make use of mouthwash or chewing gum that contains Xylitol. Xylitol lowers the bacteria in the caregiver’s saliva and this lowers the risk of their child being infected.

Start early
Many parents are faced with the dilemma of their child not wanting to brush their teeth. To prevent a child’s aversion to brushing, start by swiping clean your baby’s mouth with gauze right from the very start. This helps a child become used to the sensation of cleaning their mouth and will ease the transition to brushing.

Say no to sugar
Your child does not need to get used to sweet things (sugar) such as cold drinks or candy.

Floss daily
To prevent gum disease and chronic infections in your mouth, floss the space under and between your teeth on a daily basis. These spaces can’t be reached with a toothbrush. Plaque that lives in these spaces causes infections – some of which you won’t even be aware of. Chronic infections in your mouth can lead to heart disease, diabetes, premature birth etc. If you floss every night, you can increase your life expectancy exponentially.

Regular visits
As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. Visit your dentist every six months to for early detection of possible gum disease or infections.

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The mystery of teeth unveiled

6/3/2015

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Succeeding by the skin of teeth used to very aptly describe the dental profession. Before advances in technology dentists had to often rely on what a patient reported as ailment, combined with a healthy dose of intuition, experience and skills accumulated during years of studying and practice.

Patients have luckily not been proverbial guinea pigs since x-ray technology enabled dental practitioners to lift the mysterious veil off the solidity of teeth and surrounding tissues and bone structures.

X-rays have for long been a contentious subject. The value of sight further than the naked eye is capable of needs to be weighed against potential risks that increase with excessive exposure to radiation that could lead to cancer, thyroid problems, and even infertility.

Technology has advanced beyond the first versions of x-ray equipment and now delivers significantly less radiation to patients and operators. Three-dimensional digital x-rays provide images from angles that are impossible to produce with two-dimensional imagery equipment. One of these technologies is called Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT).

In less than a minute, CBCT scans provide clear images of bone, muscle, and blood vessels and are used for implant placement planning, orthodontics planning, and diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders and injuries. These scans deliver radiation in doses up to 100 less than traditional CT scans.

Two-dimensional x-rays of teeth, like panoramograms, are limited in their functionality as teeth and surrounding bone structures can only be viewed from limited angles. This might for instance hide an unintended slant in an implant, which could lead to complications ranging from infection to nerve damage. Three-dimensional scans that can inform a dentist from all angles, and show the location of both hard and soft tissues significantly reduces the risk of invasive dental procedures.

As CBCT scanners are very expensive it is not possible for every dental practice to have the technology on site. Dr Ronel Podde regularly provides support services for other dental practices that wish to provide their patients with the very best dental care. The patient will be referred to us for the necessary scans and production of an implant guide which they can then take back to the referring practitioner for completion of the implantation procedure.

This allows patients to benefit from the best of both worlds; the latest advances in digital dentistry as well as treatment by a dental practitioner of their choice.

There are several other digital x-ray options available to dental patients:

Cephalometric scans 
Ceph x-rays are used to look at the teeth in relation to the jaw and profile, which is often used to determine the best type of orthodontic treatment. 
Intra-oral x-rays
 Intra-oral x-rays are often helpful in determining the cause of pain in a specific tooth because it allows dentists to visualise the tooth as well as the surrounding bone. 
Hand and wrist x-rays 
Each patient follows a unique growth cycle that impacts the type and duration of dental treatment necessary. Hand and wrist x-rays enable dentists to plan the best treatment for each individual patient.

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Sien jou tandarts goed genoeg?

4/3/2015

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Click here to read the English version of this article

Die ou idioom dat iemand wat braaf is hare op hul tande het is vir niemand meer waar as vir tandartse nie. Voordat tegnologie vir die tandheelkunde industrie ontwikkel is kon tandartse slegs behandeling toedien gebasseer om dit wat die pasiënt kon vertel, gekombineer met die kennis wat hulle tydens jare van studie en ervaring opgedoen het.

Pasiënte hoef gelukkig nie meer as proefkonyne te dien nie vanaf x-straal tegnologie die soliedheid van tande en omliggende strukture minder misterieus gemaak het.

X-strale is vir lank al ‘n onderwerp wat teenstrydige opinies uitlok. Die waarde van sig verder as waaroor die naakte oog beskik moet opgeweeg word teen die potensiële risikos van ‘n oormaat blootstelling aan bestraling wat later van tyd kan lei na kanker, sklidklierprobleme en selfs infertiliteit.

Tegnologie het gelukkig al baie gevorder en nuwerwetse x-straal masjiene lewer aansienlik minder skadelike bestraling. Daar is ook masjiene wat ‘n drie-dimensionele aansig van dele van die menslike liggaam moontlik maak, wat nie met die naakte oog of tradisionele twee-dimensionele x-strale sigbaar is nie. Een van die nuutste tegnieke is sogenaamde Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT).

CBCT skanderings produseer in minder as ‘n minuut akkurate voorstellings van been, spiere, en bloedvate moontlik. CBCT skanderings word gebruik vir veral die beplanning van tand implantaat plasing, ortodontiese behandeling, sowel as die diagnosering en behandeling van verskeie kaak en tandbeserings. Die tegnologie lewer tot 100 keer minder bestraling aan pasiënte as gewone CT skanderings.

Twee-dimensionele x-strale van tande, soos ‘n panoramogram, is bedrieglik omdat dit nie ‘n aansig van alle moontlike hoeke af verskaf nie. ‘n Implantaat kan byvoorbeeld perfek geplaas lyk op ‘n twee-dimensionele x-straal, maar heeltemal skeef wees van ‘n ander hoek af. So ‘n implantaat dra die risiko van senuweeskade wat kan lei tot moontlike verlamming van gesigspiere.

Aangesien die CBCT skandering tegnologie baie duur is, en ook in vir elke pasiënt se behandeling benodig word nie, kan alle tandarts dit nie in hulle praktyke aanhou nie. Dr Ronel Podde het egter ‘n CBCT skandeerder en die kennis om die voordeel van die tegnologie aan pasiënte van ander tandheelkundige praktyke ook te kan bied.

Hierdie diens is veral nuttig vir tandartse wat implantate as deel van hul dienste aanbied aangesien daar as deel van ‘n CBCT skandering afspraak ‘n gids vervaardig kan word wat die pasiënt na hulle verwysende tandarts kan terugneem om gebruik te word gedurende die voorgeskrewe behandeling. Sodoende ontvang die pasiënt die voordeel van vermindering in risiko terwyl hulle behandeling ontvang van ‘n tandarts waaraan hulle gewoond is, en tandartse het die gemoedsrus dat ‘n implantaat akkuraat geplaas is gebasseer op die drie-dimensionele skandering.

Daar is verskeie ander digitale x-straal opsies wat beskikbaar is aan tandheelkunde pasiënte:

Cephalometriese skanderings:
 Hierdie skadenrings word veral gebruik in die beplanning van ortodontiese behandeling aangesien dit tande in verhouding met die kakebeen en profiel besigitig. 
Binnemondse x-strale :
Indien daar ‘n spesifieke tand of area in die mond is wat seer is, maar daar is geen sigbare skade nie, kan ‘n binnemondse x-straal ‘n tandarts help om die tand en omliggende weefsel deeglik te bestudeer sonder om onnodige prosedures te doen. 
Hand en gewrig x-strale:
 Vir langer termyn behandeling, soos byvoorbeeld met kinders wat vinnig groei, kan hand en gewrig x-strale ‘n tandarts die nodige insig gee om behandeling te beplan wat die natuurlike groei van die beenstruktuur van die pasiënt se liggaam in ag neem.

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Success is but a dentist visit away

13/1/2015

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The recent crowning of South African beauty Rolene Strauss as Miss World has opened up the age-old debate about the importance and impact of physical appearance again. Several scientific studies have proven that we possess a natural disposition to like, trust and reward those with more pleasing looks, which explains the continued growth of the multi-billion dollar beauty industry.

The New Year has seen many resolutions that focus on personal and professional success, including overall physical health and financial goals, including promotions and salary increases at work. Irrespective of your genes, there is a lot you can do to align your physical appearance with areas that are said to contribute to facial beauty, and thereby influencing the impact others have on your success. While we firmly support the principle that beauty shouldn’t be skin-deep, there are certain areas where nurture can go a long way in supporting the beauty of nature.

Symmetry
Symmetrical faces are perceived as more attractive, and more attractive people are perceived as more successful. Orthodontic treatment however not intended solely for the purpose of making smiles more symmetrical, but also to make it easier to keep teeth clean. Crooked teeth prevent toothbrushes and floss from reaching the essential nooks and crannies, which makes it harder for plaque to be removed and easier for tooth decay to set in. While braces and other orthodontic treatments are usually most effective during the early teenage years, adults can benefit hugely from correcting the alignment of their teeth.

Age
Teeth whitening has been promoted as a quick solution to habits that are detrimental to dental health, but not many are aware that adult teeth often become darker with age, as dentine that is naturally yellow in colour, thickens.

A bright, white smile can take years off any face and gives the appearance of overall health,” says Dr Podde. “It also has the added benefit of patients actually wanting to show off their smiles making them instantly appear friendlier and more approachable.

Scent
The power of smell on the scale of attractiveness is another contributor that has been the subject of many a paper and poll. Halitosis is a subject that many patients are embarrassed to discuss when they visit the dentist, but it is the perfect place to determine and treat the cause of bad breath.

Hygiene
Plaque causes buildup and discolouration on teeth over the short term, and leads to unsightly tooth decay in the long run. While everyone knows that teeth need to be cleaned at least twice a day, there are many that have never been taught how to clean their teeth correctly. Holding a toothbrush at a 45-degree angle, and brushing for at least two minutes to reach all exposed surfaces is a good starting point.

The saying “don’t floss all your teeth, only the ones you want to keep” is one of the truest sayings of all times. Teeth are the only part of the human body that can’t repair itself. Once a tooth is decayed, an intervention from a dentist is the only way to repair the damaged part in order to restore health and prevent future problems.

Regular check-ups with a dentist are often placed at the bottom of ever-increasing to-do lists, as is having a scale and polish procedure to remove the stubborn build-up that simply can’t be removed by dental care at home. What patients don’t realise is that repairing teeth and diseased gum tissue turns out to be significantly more expensive than the fee charged for preventative care such as scale, polish and fissure sealants. Poor dental health can also lead to numerous diseases affecting rest of the body, such as heart disease, which can lead to even greater medical expenses.”

Although both scientific and informal studies on the topic of the importance of beauty supports the notion that attractive people are more successful, there is one common denominator that keeps the conversation alive; the influence of personality on the perception of beauty.

Regardless of genetics, regimens or interventions, the only everlasting fact is that beauty, regardless of popularity or preference, lies firmly in the eye of the beholder.

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Staan jou tande in die pad van jou drome?

13/1/2015

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Click here for the English version of this article

Die onlangse kroning as Mej Wêreld van Suid-Afrikaanse skoonheid Rolene Strauss het weer die eeu-oue debat oor die belangrikheid en impak van aantreklikheid na vore gebring. Verskeie wetenskaplike studies het bewys dat ons ‘n natuurlike voorkeur het om te hou van mense wat aantreklik is, en dat aantreklike mense ook vinnger vertrou word en meer verdien. Dit verduidelik natuurlik die aanhoudende groei van multi-biljoen Rand skoonheidsindustrie.

Die nuwe jaar het baie mense sien voornemens maak met beide ‘n persoonlike en professionele aanslag, insluitende verbeterde gesondheid, finansiële doelwitte, bevorderings en salaris verhogings. Ten spyte van jou gene is daar heelwat wat jy kan doen om jou voorkoms aan te pas met eienskappe wat wetenskaplikes sê bydra tot skoonheid, en ook sodoende die impak van ander se besluite op jou sukses. Terwyl die beginsel dat skoonheid dieper as vel diepte is totaal waar is, is daar tog areas waar goeie versorging jou natuurlike voorkoms kan verbeter.

Simitrie
Simetriese gesigte word beskou as meer aantreklik, en aantreklike mense word beskou as meer suksesvol. Ortodontiese behandeling is nie net vir suiwer kosmetiese doeleindes nie, maar ook om te help om tande makliker skoon te hou. Skewe tande verhoed tandeborsels en tandeflos om by al die nodige plekkies op jou tande se oppervlakte by te kom. Dit maak dat plaak moeiliker agterbly selfs nadat jy klaar tande geborsel het, en dus kan jou tande vinniger gaatjies ontwikkel. Terwyl draadjies en ander ortodontiese behandeling effektiewer is gedurende die tiener jare kan volwassenes ook groot baat vind deur die korrekte belyning van hulle tande.

Ouderdom
Tande verbleiking word bemark as ‘n vinnige regstelling van die resultate van slegte gewoontes wat kan ly tot swak tandhigiëne. Baie mense weet egter nie dat volwasse tande met tyd natuurlik van kleur verander soos wat die dentien, wat van nature geel is, verdik. ‘n Skitterwit glimlag kan jou gesig etlike jare jonger laat vertoon, laat jou baie gesonder lyk, en laat jou vriendeliker voorkom omdat jy nie kan help om te glimlag nie!

Reuk
Daar is al baie artikels geskryf en geselsies gemaak oor die impak wat reuk op die aantreklikheid skaal het. Baie mense is huiwerig of skaam om halitose (slegte asem) met hul tandarts te bespreek. ‘n Besoek aan die tandarts is egter die perfekte geleentheid om uit te vind wat die oorsaak en nodige behandeling is.

Higiëne
Plaak veroorsaak aanpaksel op en verkleuring van die tande in die korttermyn, en lei tot onooglike tandeskade oor die langer termyn. Meeste mense weet dat tande minstens twee maal per dag geborsel moet word, maar baie het nog nooit geleer hoe om dit deeglik te doen nie. ‘n Tandeborsel wat teen ‘n 45-grade hoek gehou word, en vir twee minute lank in klein sirkels oor alle tandoppervlaktes beweeg word, is ‘n goeie beginpunt.

Die gesegde “borsels slegs die tande wat jy wil behou” is baie waar. Tande is die enigste gedeelte van die menslike liggaam wat ditself nie kan herstel wanneer dit beskadig is nie. Wanneer ‘n tand eers beskadig of gedeeltelik verrot is, kan slegs ‘n tandarts die skade herstel en behandeling verskaf wat toekomstige probleme kan voorkom.

Gereelde besoeke aan die tandarts is gewoonlik laag op die ellelange lysie van dinge wat gedoen moet word, maar ‘n skalering en polering elke ses maande kan toekomstige probleme verhoed. Om voorkomend op te tree is beslis meer koste-effektief as wat dit is om tande te herstel of te vervang. Ongesonde tande en tandvleis kan ook aanleiding gee tot heelwat meer ernstige gesondheidsprobleme wat opsigself baie duur is.

Alhoewel studies oor die impak van skoonheid wys na die neiging om aantreklike mense meer suksesvol te ag, blyk dit dat die invloed van persoonlikheid op hoeveel mense van mekaar hou nogsteeds sterker is as suiwer voorkoms.

Dus ongeag van gene, skoonheidsroetines of –prosedures is die enigste feit van skoonheid dat dit vergaan, terwyl deug bly bestaan.

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A solution for better sleep can be found at the dentist

4/11/2014

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This article was published in the January 2015 edition of Premier Magazine.

Remaining productive and positive during the last few weeks of the year is challenging enough without having to face the dire consequences of sleep deprivation. A lack of sufficient deep sleep can be brought about by stress, poor physical condition, external stimuli or medical conditions such as sleep apnea and excessive snoring. These sleep disturbances are a cause of fatigue and frustration for not only the sufferers, but also for their sleeping partners.

The fatigue and depression accompanying poor quality sleep are also causes for a loss of productivity in the workplace, as well as industrial and traffic accidents. Regular sleep disturbances can also cause a number of life-threatening medical conditions including high blood pressure, heart attack, diabetes, stroke and even in severe cases, death.

Sleep apnea sufferers experience daytime fatigue because their nervous system never goes into the stage of deep sleep necessary for rest and relaxation. Without knowing it, sleep apnea sufferers may stop breathing momentarily up to 600 times per night. Breathing usually starts again with an explosive noise, also causing their sleeping partners to wake up to some degree.

Muscles relax during deep sleep, including the muscles usually keeping the airway open. As a result the airway either narrows severely or temporarily collapses, causing breathing to stop. When breathing ceases the nervous system, designed to ensure survival, wakes the body up just enough to resume breathing but not necessarily enough to make the sleeper aware of the problem.

Many jokes are made about excessive snoring but not many people realise that it might be an indicator of a more serious underlying cause. Even if sleep apnea isn’t present, the disturbance in sleep for those who share a sleeping space with the snorer usually leads to great frustration in relationships.

Solutions for excessive snoring and sleep apnea usually involve sleep studies, overnight Electroencephalogram (EEG), Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy, or surgery. Although effective, these treatment procedures tend to be costly, and risky in the case of surgery.

Great advances have been made in the area of devices that aid the deep sleep necessary for relaxation and restoration. We prescribe a device called Silent Nite for patients suffering from sleep apnea or excessive snoring, and eight out of 10 patients find that the device brings an immediate end to their suffering.

The Silent Nite device, made from a soft inner layer encased by a hard protective layer, is custom fabricated to ensure a comfortable fit. The device moves the lower jaw into a forward position, increasing space in the airway tube and reducing the soft tissue vibration known as the snoring noise.

While the idea of sleeping with a device in the mouth might sound strange to some, the solution provided by treatment traditionally prescribed are significantly more intrusive and potentially cumbersome.

A number of Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialists have referred patients to us to be fitted with a Silent Nite device, and the success rate has been phenomenal. A good night’s sleep is within closer reach than many people realise. Better sleep can be a reality, rather than just a Christmas wish or a new years resolution.

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Vat die byt uit nagrus uit

4/11/2014

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Click here to read the English version of this article.

Hierdie artikel was ook gepubliseer in die Januarie 2015 uitgawe van Premier Magazine.

Om aan die einde van die jaar produktief en positief te bly is moeilik genoeg sonder om met die gevolge van 'n gebrek aan goeie kwaliteit slaap ook hoef saam te leef. Slaap verlies kan die gevolg wees van stres, ongesonde leefstyl, geraas of mediese probleme soos slaap apnee en uitermatige snorkery. Hierdie slaap versteurings veroorsaak aanhoudende moegheid en frustrasie vir nie net die lyers nie, maar ook vir die mense wat hulle slaap spasie deel.

Die moegheid en swaarmoedigheid wat hand-aan-hand gaan met swak kwaliteit slaap veroorsaak 'n verlies in produktiwiteit in die werksplek, sowel as industriële en motorvoertuig ongelukke. Gereelde slaapversteurings kan ook lei tot verskeie lewensdreigende mediese toestande soos hoë bloeddruk, hartaanvalle, diabetes, beroertes en in ernstige gevalle, die dood.

"Slaap apnee lyers ervaar aanhoudende moegheid gedurende die dag omdat hulle senuweestelsel nooit die diep slaap stadium bereik wat nodig is vir rus en ontspanning nie," sê Dr Ronel Podde, 'n tandarts in Pretoria wat slaaptoestelle verskaf aan slaap apnee lyers. "Sonder dat hulle dit weet kan slaap apnee lyers tot 600 keer gedurende die nag tydelik ophou asem haal. Asemhaling begin gewoonlike weer met 'n harde geluid, wat dan ook die persoon wat 'n kamer of bed met die lyer deel kan wakker maak."

Wanneer mens slaap verslap jou spiere, insluitende die spiere wat gewoonlik die lugweg oophou. As gevolg daarvan vernou die lugweg heelwat of val selfs tydelik plat, wat veroorsaak dat asemhaling vir 'n oomblik stop. Wanneer asemhaling stop, word die senuweestelsel, wat gemaak is om oorlewing te verseker, geaktiveer. Dit maak die liggaam wakker genoeg om weer asem te haal, maar nie noodwendig wakker genoeg dat die slapende persoon bewus is van wat gebeur het nie.

"Daar word baie grappe gemaak oor luide gesnorkery, maar nie baie mense besef dat dit 'n aanduiding van 'n meer ernstige onderliggende mediese toestand kan wees nie," verduidelik Dr Podde. "Selfs al is slaap apnee nie die oorsaak van luide snork nie en dus nie 'n gevaar vir die lyer nie, is die slaap versteuring vir die persoon wat die slaap spasie deel gewoonlik 'n oorsaak van groot frustrasie in verhoudings."

Oplossings vir uitermatige snorkery en slaap apnee sluit gewoonlik duur toetse, terapie en selfs operasies in. Alhoewel hierdie behandelings meestal effektief is, is dit ook duur en in die geval van 'n operasie, ook 'n risiko.

"Groot ontwikkeling is gedoen in terme van toestelle wat die diep slaap wat nodig is vir rus en ontspanning bevorder," sê Dr Podde. "Ons skryf 'n toestel genaamd Silent Nite voor vir pasiënte wat ly aan slaap apnee of uitermatige snorkery, en agt uit 10 pasiënte vind dat die toestel onmiddelike verligting bring."

Die Silent Nite toestel het 'n sagte binnekant en harde buitekant, en word gevorm volgens elke individuele pasiënt se mondvorm. Die toestel beweeg die onderkaak in 'n vorentoe posisie, wat veroorsaak dat die spasie in die lugweg wyer word en sodoende ook die sagte weefsel vibrasies (snorkery) verminder.

Die idee van slaap met 'n toestel in die mond kan vreemd klink, maar die oplossings wat tradisioneel voorgeskryf word is gewoonlik heelwat meer steurend en indringend.

"Verskeie Oor, Neus en Keel spesialiste het alreeds pasiënte na ons verwys om 'n Silent Nite toestel te ontvang, en die suksessyfer was opmerklik," vertel Dr Podde. "'n Goeie nagrus is meer bereikbaar as wat meeste mense besef. Goeie kwaliteit slaap kan 'n realiteit wees; dit hoef nie net 'n Kersfees wens of Nuwejaarsvoorneme te wees."

Kliek hier vir ons bladsy oor slaap apnee, of maak 'n afspraak om jou eie persoonlike Silent Nite te kry.

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5 dental tips to add 10 years to your life

The mystery of teeth unveiled

Sien jou tandarts goed genoeg?

Success is but a dentist visit away

Staan jou tande in die pad van jou drome?

A solution for better sleep can be found at the dentist

Vat die byt uit nagrus uit

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