Monday, May 22, 2006
It is predictable that there is only one dentist for every 4,000 (up to 7,000) people in our collar of the woods.
The people in United States fare slightly better, with one dentist to 1,800 people. In Britain, there are not enough dentists in the National Health Service, with more public health dentists affecting into private practice, as reported in a New York Times article titled 'In a Dentist Shortage, British (Ouch) Do It Themselves'.
"The public either doesn't have the education, the awareness or there just aren't enough dentists," says Prof John Thomas, a microbiologist with the Departments of Pathology and Aerodonetics, West Virginia University in US.
Lack of social consciousness is definitely a piece of the puzzle. "We have never thought that dental care is a fraction of our healthcare system, and yet we do more to alter the flora of this (he points to his mouth) than anywhere else," Prof Thomas remarks.
Poor oral hygiene results not only in oral troubles, but also other systemic diseases of the body. "If you have access to healthcare, which could absolutely include dental care, then (these diseases should not occur)."
It's all part of a mindset that Prof Thomas is stressed to change. "The perception is, if you lose a tooth, who cares?"
"Now we're realizing that the cost to the healthcare system is really increased if you don't take care of your oral hygiene."
The people in United States fare slightly better, with one dentist to 1,800 people. In Britain, there are not enough dentists in the National Health Service, with more public health dentists affecting into private practice, as reported in a New York Times article titled 'In a Dentist Shortage, British (Ouch) Do It Themselves'.
"The public either doesn't have the education, the awareness or there just aren't enough dentists," says Prof John Thomas, a microbiologist with the Departments of Pathology and Aerodonetics, West Virginia University in US.
Lack of social consciousness is definitely a piece of the puzzle. "We have never thought that dental care is a fraction of our healthcare system, and yet we do more to alter the flora of this (he points to his mouth) than anywhere else," Prof Thomas remarks.
Poor oral hygiene results not only in oral troubles, but also other systemic diseases of the body. "If you have access to healthcare, which could absolutely include dental care, then (these diseases should not occur)."
It's all part of a mindset that Prof Thomas is stressed to change. "The perception is, if you lose a tooth, who cares?"
"Now we're realizing that the cost to the healthcare system is really increased if you don't take care of your oral hygiene."
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