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21 May 2008 Mind Your Body (The Straits Times Supplement)
No pain, no need for
dentistThis is the
top reason many S'poreans cite in a survey for not visiting the dentist.
MELISSASIM
reports
In a recent survey, carried out by the Singapore Dental Health
Foundation (SDHF) and the
Singapore Human Resources Institute (SHRI), 'no pain' was the top reason
cited for
Singaporeans not going to a dentist regularly.
The survey, carried out last year, sought the opinions of professionals
and workers about
preventive dental care - to gauge their level of awareness and desire
for dental health benefits.
A total of 337 respondents took part in the survey. About 45 per cent
were workers - mainly bluecollar workers primarily in the 21-30 age
group.
Those who said they did not visit a dentist regularly were asked for the
reasons.
Assistant manager Charles Vincent, 35, who has not visited a dentist in
two years, gave the
typical response: 'I just didn't feel the urgency.'
But when he finally visited dentist Dr Asha Karunakaran, his gums had
already retracted - a late sign of gum disease.
It is not true that when there is no pain, there is no need to visit a
dentist,' said DrAsha, one of
the founding members of the SDHF.
Even if there is no pain, a person could be suffering from gum disease -
an infection that attacks the gums and bone that support the teeth and
may result in the loss of teeth.
In fact, in 2003, the Health Promotion Board found that 81 per cent of
Singapore adults have
some form of gum disease.
Dr Asha said gum disease is common because it develops slowly and can go
undetected, since pain is one of the last signs. The common early signs
include red gums, puffy or swollen gums, bleeding from the gums and bad
breath.
Tooth decay is another common problem not nipped in the bud due to the
late onset of pain, said Woodlands Polyclinic dental officer, Dr Lih Wei
Song. 'When a cavity forms, there are no
symptoms and no pain. It's only when the decay is close to the nerve
that there is sensitivity. By
then, the tooth is already infected,' said Dr Lih.
Dr Koh Choo Guan, consultant at the periodontics unit at the National
Dental Centre, said: 'Some are scared to see a dentist because of the
expectation of pain, or they know they have bad teeth but do not want to
face the truth.'
In fact, 'if people came for regular check-ups, there would be little
dirt accumulated and less
sensitivity,' said Dr Lih.
Some 92 per cent in the survey agreed that preventive care is important.
But 68 per cent of the
workers said they would visit a dentist only if their company paid for
it.
Indeed, the survey found that 'no time' and 'no desire to spend money'
at the dentist were
common excuses. In fact, regular dental checks can save money.
Dr Asha said it made more sense to visit a dentist regularly than wait
for problems to arise.
She said that at an advanced stage of gum disease, a patient might need
a large filling, root canal treatment and even a crown, which would come
up to about $1,000.
But if the problem was detected early, consultation and some fluoride
and calcium creams would cost just $65.
Importantly, dentists also give advice on proper home care.
Said Dr Koh: 'Home care such as proper brushing, flossing and brushing
between the teeth canhelp to reduce bacteria in the mouth and reduce the
risk of disease.'
Now Mr Vincent said he spends 20 minutes on his teeth each time he
brushes. 'I feel 200 times better. It's worth the investment,' he said.
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