A Guide for Those Who Care about Their Smile


A Special ‘Sugar Tax’ Should Go To Dental Care Institutions

As we all know very well, sugary and sweet foods are very harmful to our dental health. Those who like candies, jams, sweet bakery and other too much sweet foods are in a great dander to develop serious dental health conditions, including tooth loss, numerous cavities and so on. On the background of the information that nowadays, not all people who need a proper dental care can afford or by other reasons receive it, the Irish government is considering an interesting and very creative solution to this problem. It is proposed to launch a special so called ‘sugar tax’, and direct the accumulated funds to dental care institutions and spend those revenues to improve national dental care.

dental careIn particular, it is proposed to spend those money to sponsor wide national dental care programs and schemes. The experts at the Irish Dental Association (IDA) support this idea extensively, and they stress on the importance of launching such a tax as an indication of government’s concern about national health and well being. The ‘sugar tax’ is a special governmental tax which is planned to be imposed on a variety of fatty foods and sugary drinks, as an effective measure to improve public health in the today’s Ireland.

The experts from the IDA are demonstrating the figures and facts proving a huge decrease in the number of dental treatments and dental procedures provided recently by dental care specialists in the country. They say that in 2010, the amount of dental services decreased too much. In particular, the number of dental fillings has reduced by over 60 per cent compared to the number of dental fillings provided in 2009, and the number of tooth extraction procedures also dropped down by almost 30 per cent compared to the one provided in 2009. The same can be said about the number of oral examinations, which has dropped by 32 per cent in 2010.

That is why, according to the report of the IDA experts, spending revenues from ‘sugar tax’ on national dental schemes and developing new dental programs could be “the best return for the taxpayer”. In addition to that, the IDA specialists point on the fact that governmental help and financial support for the PRSI dental treatment cover programs and schemes have been recently decreasing, and in 2010 governmental funding for these programs decreased almost by 50 per cent. That is why extra financial support for national dental programs is absolutely vital and necessary in the circumstances.

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Dental Tourism Destinations: Mexico

It is a known fact that despite of high public awareness about the importance of regular dental care and proper dental treatments, a great deal of today’s population actually neglect the easy rules of basic dental care, and that is caused by various reasons. Some can not afford expensive dental services, some just feel lazy, some people forget and for some people such services are simply unavailable. At the same time, some people do seek effective and affordable dental care services abroad, and the countries like Turkey, Ukraine or Mexico are now offering great quality and inexpensive dental care procedures and treatments.

Mexico is the southern neighbor of the US and the best choice for American citizens in many aspects. Known as a vacation paradise, it recently started offering its opportunities for the tourists around the world as one of the greatest dental tourism destinations, and thousands of guests from all continents come to Mexico to get tanned, enjoy luxury hotels and amazing Mexican cuisine, dance all night long in numerous night clubs, as well as enjoy the advantages of medical tourism in Mexico and improve their dental health.

Dental Tourism DestinationMexican dental specialists are highly qualified as the majority of them had a proper training and practice in the US. They offer a great variety of services, starting from usual checkups and fillings and ending up with dental implants and dental bridges. All the offered services are of world class standards.

Besides, a great competition among dental clinics and dental specialists in Mexico gives the clients an opportunity of choice. The same factor greatly impacts the prices, and the same dental procedure can cost in Mexico up to three times less than the one in the US. Complex and cosmetic procedures are also in a great demand, and every day more and more specialists in Mexico, well equipped and English-speking, open their doors to the customers.

Dental tourism in Mexico is blossoming, and every year the country becomes more and more attractive as a great dental tourism destination. Those who want to enjoy the services and amenities of this friendly country can go to Cancun, Los Cabos, Guadalajara, or other centers of dental services. Along with having a great vacation, you can enjoy a high quality dental work and save your funds for other important purposes. Excellent reputation of Mexican dental care specialists and outstanding facilities make Mexico one of the best choices for those who care about their pearly whites.

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Dental Care For Patients With Cancer

The importance of a proper dental care for everyone of us is indisputable. However, people with certain health conditions and diseases should pay extra attention on their dental care and regular dental procedures. This can be said about the people who suffer from type 2 diabetes or severe mental disorders like Alzheimer’s disease. Besides, those patients who were diagnosed with the most common types of cancer, who had to undergo a variety of anti-cancer therapies, also require a special attention of today’s dental specialists. And many world’s leading dentists are talking about the necessity to make a good emphasis on this issue is dental schools around the world.

Cancer is a very serious and stressful disease which is linked to a variety of treatments and very serious side effects. The most commonly offered cancer treatments include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery, and all of those have very serious impact on the body and health. Sometimes, patients with cancer have to undergo a combination of the mentioned treatments which in turn has much heavier impact on the body and general health. In particular, the most common side effects of cancer treatments on patients’ dental health include:

  • patients with cancerNecrosis of tissues in oral cavity
  • Tooth decay
  • Dry mouth
  • Wounds in oral cavity and impaired ability to heal them effectively
  • Inability to open the mouth properly
  • Increased risks of osteoradionecrosis and other related conditions
  • Others

Many specialists point on the importance of teaching young dental specialists how to treat the mentioned dental problems and health conditions which are very common in people who suffer from head and neck cancer. Every dentist should have skills and enough knowledge to evaluate treatment opportunities, choose the best and the most proper one, and perform all necessary procedures in the framework of the selected type of treatment. Unfortunately, currently the issue is not being stressed out enough in dental educational establishments.

In particular, it is known that patients with cancer who undergo a radiation treatment should recognize the importance of special fluoride treatment, and dentists should explain the patients the necessity of performing this procedure on a daily basis. It is crucial to raise the level of awareness and understating of the specifics of dental care for patients with cancer among today’s dental care specialists. Side effects of cancer treatments like radiation therapy or chemotherapy can be very harmful, and proper dental treatments are the only way to prevent their destructive effects on the overall health of those people.

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