| Dental Health Awareness Week has just gone, but the message delivered by Chairman of the Health Authority of Anguilla, Dr. Franklin Lloyd, Senior Dental Surgeon/Prosthodontist, Dr. Lindel Brooks, and Director of Medical Services, Dr. Kennedy Simmonds, lingers on. They all stressed the need for persons to care their teeth and warned about the serious effects which diseases of the teeth and gums could cause. |
The occasion was the official opening ceremony of Dental Awareness Week on October 22, chaired by Dental Surgeon, Dr. Sherry Ephraim.
“For many years, dentistry has been considered as the mechanical treatment of teeth and dentists as technical people with instruments to change or correct structural damage in the mouth,” Dr. Lloyd observed. “Today, the face of dentistry is changing as dentists are looking at diseases of the mouth in a more holistic way, recognising that diseases of the mouth manifest themselves in other parts of the body. It is for this reason that many dentists now consider themselves oral physicians.” He said that periodontal disease was the chief cause of tooth loss in individuals over the age of 35 and affected 90% of individuals over the age of 65. “Chronic gum infections can pose risks for diabetes, heart disease and even premature deliveries,” he stated. “There is also increasing evidence that diseases of the mouth have implications for elsewhere in the body… “Taking care of teeth can combat implications of diabetes and may reduce inflammation throughout the body associated with diseases such as cardio-vascular diseases. When oral health improves, overall health improves,” Dr. Lloyd added. An overview of dental services in Anguilla was given by Dr. Brooks who said that there was remarkable success in dentistry over the years. He acknowledged however that prevention, a most important factor in dental care delivery in Anguilla, had not been a sustained success. “This has been the case because of various reasons,” he explained. “Namely, the lack of adequate staff and poor cooperation from parents in making sure that their children are present for their appointments, and our inability to find a mechanism of fluoride treatment delivery, a normal practice.”
He stated that fluoride had been for many decades an ingredient which significantly reduced dental decay and was most effective in drinking water, but that it was an asset denied in Anguilla due to the nature of the water system. He noted that there were success reports in the Caribbean where fluoridated salt has had a statistical and significant impact on the preventive dental programme, a matter Anguilla should look into. Dr. Brooks said that although there were only four dental therapists, there was a need for more children to receive treatment. He pointed out that: “The disadvantage of not having a more effective dental programme is that when our young people leave school, too large a percentage of them leave with dental problems leading to the adult dental health crisis that we have.” He continued: “The forecast is clear. In order for the Dental Unit to effectively meet the challenges and provide the quality care that Anguillians deserve, a new facility is needed. This is coupled with more trained staff and the rising systemic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes and coronary heart disease. The presence of periodontal and gum diseases which were earlier considered to be local diseases, contribute to heart attacks, complications with class-two diabetes, low birth-rate babies, coronary heart disease and also compromise the immune system and more.” Dr. Simmonds, who spoke in a similar manner, said: “It is well established that disease of the teeth and gums can have seriously adverse effects on other diseases and also make us more vulnerable to life-threatening disorders like strokes and heart attacks. The care of teeth and gums therefore is essential to good health. Our priority in dental care, as in other areas, is prevention and our prevention programmes start with the children.” Dental Awareness Week was declared opened by Minister of Social Development, Evans Rogers. |
