Alopecia areata

 

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Alopecia areata is the sudden hair loss where  coin like Bald patches are seen on the scalp.

It is an autoimmune condition in which the hair losses unpredictable.

It can occur in any age. Most cases are seen in the age before 30 years.

It can be seen in any gender.

In this condition, our n immune system attacks our own hair follicles. Due to which hair follicles shrink, and hairs fall down.

Links and associations+

1. The person suffering from allopathic areata has a greater risk of having other autoimmune diseases like  thyroiditis, vitiligo, pernicious anaemia

2. Collagen vascular diseases

3. Common with down syndrome

4. Stress, anxiety, depression

Extreme stress is a trigger for allopathy areata.

Symptoms- 

1. Hair loss- round, coin sized bald patches on scalp 

2. Hair loss can be sudden or develop in some days or weeks.

3. The area of hair loss appears smooth

4. Sometime,s growth of beard and eyelashes are also affected

5. No Itching, redness or burning sensation over the scalp

6. Nails - small dents, white spots or lines

Types- 

1. Localised allopesha areata - hair fall occurs in small, localised patches

2. Alopecia areata totalis- complete hair loss over the scalp

3. Alopecia areata universalis- hair loss occurs a over the full body, that is from scalp eyebrows eyelashes beard and gradually from all over the body.

4. Diffuse alopecia areata- appears like male or female pattern baldness.

5. Ofiatic alopecia area- hair loss occurs on the sides are back of scalp

Diagnosis-

1. Biopsy

2. Blood tests

The chances of recovery are high

Allopesha areata is a recurrent condition. That is it can occur again and again at an interval of few months or years.

Myths+

1. Caused by a worm

2. Side effect of a drugg or medicine

3. Related to any food or water

4. Can be treated by applying coconut oil or onion juice

6 Tips to prepare your child for first dental visit

Do you know 'The first visit to a dentist should occur within 6 months of the eruption of the first primary tooth'?

Is your child afraid of dentists? 

I know most people are not fond of dentists, let alone kids. But it goes without saying how important is visiting a dentist to maintain your child's oral health.

Here are 6 ways you can prepare your child for his/her dental visit.

1. Read a story and/or watch a movie or cartoon with your child about going to the dentist.

This will help your child relate to the character and make them more comfortable to visit a dentist. (Because their favourite characters had a good time in a dental office.)

One that I myself found interesting was when Mr. Bean goes to the dentist.

One of my another favourites is Dora the Explorer Show Me Your Smile A Visit to the Dentist. Here is a link for the same. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwytS2c3t64

       2. Play ' dentist-patient' with your child.

Just like children play 'teacher-student' or 'cop-thief' or 'kitchen-kitchen' , play 'dentist-patient' with them. You can count their teeth and maybe touch their gums to make them familiar with having foreign objects in their mouth. And tell them to do the same to you. Don't forget to clean your hands before and after playing it.  

     3. Don't convey anxiety to your child.

Children observe their parents and learn from them. If your child sense that you are afraid or uncomfortable, it will make him/her more fearful. So, be calm. Maybe someone close to your child (grandparents, elder sibling etc.) can take them to the dentist.

     

You may also call your dentist for any query or to talk anything that you are not sure about before your child's dental visit.

    4.  Choose your words wisely.

Tell yor child about your experiences in the dental office. While doing so, be positive, short and simple. Don't use words like needle, bleeding, drill, hurt, pain etc. in front of them.

     5. Let your dentist know psychological, physical or mental disabilities your child may have.

This will make it easier for the dentist to treat the child and to make a healthy relationship with them so that their dental visits are pleasant.

 

   

       6. Toy support.

Both the parent and the dentist can and should provide dental support to the child by allowing them to bring their favourite toy wit them to the dental office.

Dentists can also consider an area for the kids to enjoy and be relaxed in their clinic, where they can put some swings and toys.

Hope you like it.

Do you remember you or your child's first visit to the dentist?

Comment down below and share some of your experiences with the dentist.

Days to remember in dentistry

This is a list of some important days in dentistry.

• National Children Dental Health Month- February

• World Cancer Day- February 4

• National Toothache Day- February 9

• National Tooth Fairy Day- February 28 , August 22

• Dental Assistants Recognition Week- March 1 to March 7

• National Dentist Day- March 6                
  

• False Teeth Day- March 9

• No Smoking Day- March 11

• World Oral Health Day- March 20

• World TB Day- March 24

• Oral Cancer Awareness Month- April

• World Health Day- April 7

• International Women's Health Day- May 28

• World No Tobacco Day- May 31

• National Smile Month- May 18 to June 18 2020

• World Blood Donation Day- June 14

• National Teeth Whitening Day- June 17

• Doctors Day- July 1

• National Fresh Breath Day- August 6

• World Oral Health Day- September 12

• National Dental Hygiene Month- October

• National Orthodontics Health Month- October

• World Smile Day- October 2

• National Anti drug Addiction day- October 2

• World Mental Health day- October 10

• Mouth Cancer Action Month- November

• National Brush Your Teeth day- November 1

• World AIDS Day- December 1

• World Patient Safety Day- December 9

I hope it was of interest to you.

Comment down below and tell me which of these do you celebrate and how?

Dental Manpower

The dental team consists of a dentist and dental auxiliaries.

A dental auxiliary is a person who:

• is employed by a dentist
• helps the dentist render dental care
• is not himself or herself qualified with a dental degree.

Classification:

1. Non operating auxiliaries:   

• Assist the dentist
• Do not carry out any procedures in the patient's mouth

• Dental Surgery Assistant
• Dental Secretary/ Receptionist
• Dental Laboratory Technician
• Dental Health Educator

   2. Operating auxiliaries:

•  permitted to carry out certain procedures in the patient's mouth under the supervision of the professional dentist.

• School Dental Nurse
• Dental Therapist
• Dental Hygienist
• Expsnded Function Dental Auxiliaries  

Dental surgery assistant

• Other names- 
• Dental assistant
• Dental nurse

• Assists the dentist or dental hygienist

• But is NOT legally permitted to treat patients independently.

• DUTIES: 

1. Reception of the patient.
2. Preparation of the patient for the treatment.
3. Preparation and provision of all necessary facilities such as mouthwashes and napkins.
4. Sterilization, care and preparation of the instruments.
5. Preparation and mixing of materials used in filling and impression making. 
6. Care of the patient after treatment.
7. Clearing away the instruments and preparing them for reuse.
8. Assistance with the x-ray work.
9. Instruction of the patient, on the use of mouthwash or post extraction instructions etc.

Four-handed dentistry:

• It is the art of seating both the dentist and the dental assistant in such a way that are within easy reach of the patient's mouth.

• So, the dentist can keep his hands and eyes in the field of operation and work with less fatigue and greater efficiency.  

• For example the assistant can perform tasks like retraction and aspiration.

For more information, click the link given bbekow

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dental_assistant     

Dental secretary/ receptionist

• Assists the dentist with their secretarial work and patient reception duties.

• For example scheduling  appointments for the patients, maintaining their accounts etc.

• Training time- 2 years.

Dental laboratory technician

• Also known as dental mechanic.

• Makes or repairs dental appliances and dentures including inlay, crown and bridge work.

DENTURIST

 

• A dental laboratory technician who fabricates dentures directly for patients without a dentist's prescription.

• May be licensed or registered.

• ADA opposes  denturism. 

According to ADA, denturists are unqualified to treat patients and can harm them.

• WHO says 'only qualified dentists may work directly on patients'.

For more information, click the link given below

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denturist

Dental health educator

• Instructs the prevention of dental diseases.

• May also be permitted to apply preventive agents intraorally but not allowed to undertake any other intraoral procedure.

For further information, click the link given below

https://www.hrha.sk.ca/programs-services/population-health-services/Pages/Dental-Health-Education.aspx

School dental nurse

• Permitted to diagnose dental disease and to plan and carry out certain specified preventive and treatment measures.

• Training time- 2 years.

• The Dental Nurse Scheme was establish in Wellington, New Zealand in 1921. 

To know more, click on the link given below.

http://thenewzealandjournal.blogspot.com/2010/04/school-dental-nurse-program-in-new.html

Also go through https://www.expresshealthcare.in/features/dental-nursing-in-india/69596/

Dental therapist

• Permitted to carry out to the prescription of a supervising dentist, certain specified, preventive and treatment measures including the preparation of cavities and restoration of teeth.

• Training time- 2 years.

For more information click on the link given below.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dental_therapist#:~:text=A%20dental%20therapist%20is%20a,and%20guidelines%20of%20each%20country.

Dental hygienist

• Licensed and registered to practice dental hygiene under the laws of the appropriate state, province, territory or nation.

• Can :
• do oral prophylaxis
• give instructions in oral hygiene and preventive dentistry
• assist the dental surgeon in chairside work
• manae the office.

• Works under the supervision of a dentist.

• Training time- 2 academic years.

For more information, click on the link given below.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dental_hygienist

Expanded function dental auxiliary (EFDA)

• Also called:
• Expanded function dental assistant
• Expanded function dental hygienist
• Expanded function auxiliary
• Expanded duty dental auxiliary
• Technotherapist

• Undertake reversible procedures ( that can be corrected or redone witout undue harm to the patient's health). For example, taking over routine restorative procedures.

• Do not prepare cavities and make decision as to pulp protection after caries has been excavated, but work alongside the dentist.

• DUTIES:

1. Placing and removing rubber dams.
2. Placing and removing temporary restorations.
3. Placing and removing matrix bands.
4. Condensing and carving amalgam restoration in previously prepared teeth.
5. Placing of acrylic restorations in previously prepared teeth.
6. Applying the final finish and polish to the previously listed restoration.

New auxiliary types

• WHO (1959) -
• The dental licentiate
• The dental aide.

I hope it was of interest to you.

Comment down below and tell me what are your thoughts on denturism .

Introduction to Dentistry

No one can deny the importance of dental medicine in their life. Because, we're all blessed with teeth! Having said that, I must mention that  the field of dentistry is not limited to teeth but also includes other aspects  such as the temporomandibular joint and supporting, muscular, lymphatic, nervous, vascular, and anatomical structures. 

Why not introduce ourselves to the next basic need after roti,kapda,makaan i.e. oral health? So, let's begin this journey together.

 The dental profession is a vocation in which knowledge and skill is used for the service of others. 

DENTAL HEALTH : SYSTEMIC HEALTH

The mouth provides a path of ingress to human health.

Consider oral cavity as the mirror of systemic health. 

Here are some of the common examples to show the same:

• Diabetes mellitus - Salivary dysfunction
• Anemia - Paleness of mucosa
• Osteoporosis ; pneumonia - Periodontal disease

Dental team

The dental team consists of:

1. A dentist/ dental surgeon
2. Dental auxiliaries

Dentist - A dentist is a person licensed to practice dentistry. He/She should be registered. It's legal for a dentist to 

•   treat patients independently
• prescribe certain drugs
• employ and supervise auxiliary personnel.

ROLE OF A DENTIST;

(According to ADA)

• Diagnosing oral diseases.
• Promoting oral health and disease prevention.
• Creating treatment plans to maintain or restore the oral health of their patients.
• Interpreting x-rays and diagnostic tests.
• Ensuring the safe administration of anesthetics.
• Monitoring growth and development of the teeth and jaws.
• Performing surgical procedures on the teeth, bone and soft tissues of the oral cavity.

Dental auxilliary - A dental auxiliary is a person who is given responsibility by a dentist so that he or she can help the dentist render dental care, but who is himself or herself not qualified with a dental degree.

Dental speciality

In India, there are nine branches (or specialities) of dentistry:

• Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics
• Oral amd Maxillofacial Surgery
• Oral Pathology and Microbiology
• Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics
• Oral Medicine and Radiology
• Public Health Dentistry
• Prosthetic Dentistry
• Pediatric Dentistry
• Periodontology

 Curriculum for BDS ( Bachelor of Dental Surgery):  

• First year:

1. General Human Anatomy (Theory and Practical)
2. Human Physiology and Biochemistry (Theory and Practical)
3. Dental Anatomy, embyology and Oral Histology (Theory and Practical)

• Second year:

1. General Pathology and Microbiology (Theory and Practical)
2. General and Dental Pharmacology and Therapuetics (Theory and Practical)
3. Dental Materials (Theory and Practical)
4. Preclinical Conservative Dentistry (Practical)
5. Preclinical Prosthodontics  (Practical)

• Third year:

1. General Medicine (Theory and Practical)
2. General Surgery (Theory and Practical)
3. Oral Pathology and Microbiology (Theory and Practical)

• Final year:

1. Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics (Theory and Practical)
2. Oral amd Maxillofacial Surgery (Theory and Practical)
3. Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics (Theory and Practical)
4. Oral Medicine and Radiology (Theory and Practical)
5. Public Health Dentistry (Theory and Practical)
6. Prosthetic Dentistry (Theory and Practical)
7. Pediatric Dentistry (Theory and Practical)
8. Periodontology (Theory and Practical)

• Fifth year:

          Rotating internship

SCOPE OF DENTISTRY:

For those who provide dental care ( or wishes to do so in future) and for the ones receiving it:

The oral cavity doesn't exist outside of the body. It being a part of the overall health cannot be overemphasised.

Eight out of ten people (having permanent set of teeth) in the world experience tooth decay and/or pyorrhea, which shouldn't be ignored and must be treated on time to avoid further complications.

Some of the most common traetments include:

• RCT
• Removal of tooth
• Cosmetic dentistry is no more rare.

I hope you enjoy what you read. 

Comment down below and let me know how do you like it. :)