印傭口腔保健 助老少僱主刷牙

在職家長分身不暇，家中子女可能見外傭多過見父母。除了煮三餐及照顧家務外，外傭將來可能連少主刷牙都負責教導。香港大學牙醫學院與印尼駐港總領事館合辦為期兩年的印傭口腔保健計劃，希望她們能夠學以致用，並以身作則，將所學應用於照顧長者及少主身上。



港大與印尼總領館合辦
本港約有十五萬名印傭，超越菲傭成為最大的外傭人口。香港大學牙醫學院盧展民教授昨表示，普遍印傭缺乏保護牙齒健康意識，無論在家鄉或來港後都甚少光顧牙醫。他希望新計劃能增加印傭口腔健康常識，並強調預防勝於治療，有助僱主減省外傭醫療保險的支出。

香港大學牙醫學院昨於印尼總領事館設立即日流動牙科診所，十二名註冊牙醫義務掛診，為到場的印傭進行簡單口腔檢查、補牙及洗牙服務。較複雜的牙科治療項目，則建議印傭到牙科診所求診。

此項牙科檢查完全免費，料未來兩年逾千名印傭受惠。印傭完成牙科檢查後，獲發檢查報告及紀念包，內有護齒小冊子，教授印傭為兒童選擇刷牙器具、口腔清潔方法與飲食習慣的貼士。以及針對照料長者口腔健康的秘訣，如牙托保護、紓緩口乾方法。











新聞來源: orientaldaily

以上所提供的資訊僅作為教育及參考用途，如果你有任何醫療問題，
應向牙醫查詢，而不應單倚賴以上提供的資料。

牙齒漂白

牙齒變色成因甚多，包括自然老化、飲用咖啡或茶、吸煙、牙菌膜積聚及牙齒創傷等。為避免牙齒變色，應於餐後刷牙、減少進食及定期由牙醫潔牙等。若牙齒變色，建議前見牙科醫生，接受最合適之牙齒美白治療。不當使用牙齒漂白劑可傷害牙齦及牙周組織，意外吞服亦可影響身體健康，建議您使用前先諮詢牙科醫生。

常見治療如下：

1. 進行深度牙齒清潔，去除表面色素

2. 進行漂白治療，去除較頑固污積及色素

3. 使用牙貼面，修平牙齒，減少色素堆積

4. 推薦合適美白牙膏、凝膠及牙貼

5. 指導正確口腔護理方法

下列為接受專業漂白治療與自行使用美白牙膏之分別：

	專業牙齒漂白治療	美白牙膏
療程	1小時	1個月
色階	8	1-2
會否褪色	不會	會
會否持久	持久	長期使用將失效
清除污積範圍	表面及頑固污積	只限表面污積

參考資料: www.bjdental.com

以上所提供的資訊僅作為教育及參考用途，如果你有任何醫療問題，應向牙醫查詢，而不應單倚賴以上提供的資料。

潮整八重齒「齙牙」 好牙煙

整容風潮無奇不有？日本近年興起「八重齒」整容風，少女們爭相找牙醫做手術，在犬齒套上尖的牙套或黐上尖的假牙，綻放「卡娃兒」笑容。這股整容奇風更吹至本港和內地，有本港少女曾向牙醫要求「整齙牙」，而深圳多間牙科診所亦推出這種最潮服務，惟診所設施甚為簡陋。本港牙醫和衞生署均指出，該類手術潛在風險，處理不當可致牙質永久損傷，尖細假牙更有機會鬆脫，誤吞入體內可致阻塞呼吸氣道甚至死亡，呼籲市民勿盲目跟風。


整容風氣愈趨熾熱，除了整靚樣貌，連牙齒都要整容。不過，牙齒整容並非要將牙整得齊整，反而是將齊整的牙，整成「齙牙」。在日本東京，近年就有牙科整容診所提供一種稱為「八重齒」的「齙牙」整容服務，所謂「八重齒」即短而尖的齙牙，每隻手術收費約三千港元。

將牙齒挫細 無得返轉頭
這股整容奇風更吹至本港和內地，記者早前到深圳東門視察，發現當地多間牙科整容診所，都有提供這種最潮的牙齒整容服務。記者佯裝顧客到一間診所查詢「八重齒」整容，該名牙醫表示，手術過程十分簡單，只需先倒牙模，再訂造假牙，等假牙送到後再到診所將牙齒黐上便可，「一黐就可以維持二十年，手術完成後可以立即進食，不會掉的，很安全。」而整牙價錢由三百至六千五百元人民幣不等，視乎假牙物料而定。


該牙醫講解時從抽屜拿出牙模及牙套示範，「就這樣將假牙黐在犬齒上就可以了，不過需要削一下本身的牙齒，不用另外加錢，全包的，想做的話隨時來找我就可以。」惟其擺放牙科手術用具的抽屜，凌亂不堪，衞生存疑。房內設施亦十分簡陋，只有一張手術椅，亦無展示醫生的專業資格證明，令人擔心是否有專業資格。


除了到內地幫襯，有港女索性直接找本港牙醫「整齙牙」。「曾經有客人搵我整，但因為做牙套要『車』細本身啲牙，無得返轉頭，我都勸佢哋唔好做。」香港矯齒學會秘書陳鎮揚又指出，「齙牙」主要成因是牙床骨面形不對稱，屬先天牙齒問題。如要「整齙牙」則要先磨細牙齒，惟事前要先進行局部麻醉，過程又要專業技術配合，只有受過專業訓練人士才能安全為客人磨牙，否則存在風險：「『車』牙真係要好小心，如果『車』得太深的話，會刺激到牙心入面嘅神經，一旦有細菌入侵就會牙發炎，可能要剝咗隻牙。」




手術風險高 易細菌感染

牙齒矯正科專科醫生指出，將整顆假牙黐在犬齒上，必須用牙科專用的固定劑，雖然經測試對人體無害，假牙仍有掉落的危機，「假牙嘅範圍比較大，比較難將佢固定喺另一隻牙上面，所以一咬嘢食隻假牙就好容易會甩出嚟，如果跌咗落氣管就可大可小，萬一有細菌感染就會發炎。」

衞生署發言人亦指，手術過程有可能對牙質造成永久損傷，引致蛀牙、牙齒痠軟及牙肉發炎等口腔問題，對牙齒咬合造成影響，若假牙鬆脫，亦有可能跌入氣管而阻塞呼吸氣道，甚至死亡。

以上所提供的資訊僅作為教育及參考用途，如果你有任何醫療問題，應向牙醫查詢，而不應單倚賴以上提供的資料。參考資料:  orientaldaily.on.cc/ 

補牙材料

總括來說，補牙材料大概分為銀粉金屬物料 (例如 ：水銀合金) 及瓷粉牙色物料 (例如 ：複合材料、玻璃離子樹脂) 兩大類。不同的物料各有不同的特性，所以會在不同情況下使用。

 水銀合金

什麼是水銀合金？

水銀合金主要是混合銀、錫、銅及水銀製成的。

什麼情況下使用？

水銀合金是最常用的補牙材料，因為它堅固、耐用，已被廣泛使用超逾一個世紀，成果令人非常滿意。

水銀合金安全嗎？

跟據一九九五年FDI世界牙醫協會及世界衛生組織發表的聲明 ，在牙齒修補物料的成份中，包括水銀合金在內，在極罕有的情況下，才會引起局部的副作用或過敏的反應。現時仍沒有任何科學文獻指出水銀合金對人體有害，所以替牙齒換水銀合金補牙物料是不必要的。

世界衛生組織定下的水銀氣體高限數值為每天300-500ug. 從一位瑞典牙科醫生的量度研究數據中發現人體平均每天從水銀合金補牙材料所吸入的水銀氣體只有1.7ug. 為高限數值的一成。我們體內的水銀來源是從多方面的。實際上，我們從魚類食物所吸取的水銀比從補牙材料所吸取的更多。比較起來，水銀合金補牙材料所涉漏的 水銀氣體是極少的。

參考資料: www.bjdental.com

以上所提供的資訊僅作為教育及參考用途，如果你有任何醫療問題，應向牙醫查詢，而不應單倚賴以上提供的資料。

Smoking ruins your teeth

Besides causing serious damages to general health, smoking also has adverse effects on oral health.

Consequences of smoking on oral health

-   Smoking may cause bad breath.

-   Smoking easily stains your teeth.

-   The chance of developing Periodontal Disease of smokers at least five times greater than that of non-smokers.

-   If a smoker who is already suffering from Periodontal Disease keeps on smoking, the nicotine in the cigarettes will jeopardize the healing potential of oral tissues and reduce the body resistance. This will worsen the condition of the Periodontal Disease.

-   Smoking increases the chance of oral cancer.

Ways to refuse smoking

-  Tell your friends that you don't like to smoke

-   Refuse cigarettes offered by others. Learn to say "no"

-   No matter where you are, insist on choosing "non-smoking areas"

-   Turn your office into a "smoke-free work place"

-   Encourage your family and friends to quit smoking. Refuse second-hand smoking Maintain a healthy life-style by having a balanced diet and exercising regularly to release stress

Ways to quit smoking

Discover motives

List out reasons for quitting as motives.
For example, quitting smoking can:

-   Save money

-   Make you look smarter

-   Make boy / girlfriend adore even more.

Make plans
Change habits that will trigger your urge to smoke. Make a plan that will help you quit smoking. At the initial stage of quitting, you may try chewing sugarless gums instead of smoking.

Persist to the end
You need to be determined and persistent that you will not to be affected by cigarettes again.

Seek help
Should you need help and assistance, please dial 2838 3266 for the 24-hour hotline of "The Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health".

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your Dentist for diagnosis and treatment.
Reference information: www.toothclub.gov.hk/; www.bjdental.com, 

Improve your smile? Artificial Crowns and Veneers?

Periodontal plastic procedures can give you a perfect smile and boost your confidence so you can be at your best. Cosmetic surgery has become more popular than ever before especially now that people are living longer and aging more gracefully with the help of plastic surgery. Periodontal plastic surgery has also felt this trend as it has experienced a significant shift toward cosmetic-related surgery to help make smiles last a lifetime.

1) Artificial crowns

A dental crown is a customized tooth-shaped "cap" that is placed over a tooth - covering the tooth to restore its shape and size, strength, and/or to improve its appearance. The crown can (i) protect a weak tooth from breaking; (ii) restore tooth that has been severely worn down; (iii)  Cover misshapened or severely discolored teeth.  Preparing a tooth for a crown usually requires two visits to the dentist -- the first step involves examining and preparing the tooth and the second visit involves placement of the permanent crown.

(2) Veneers

Severely stained or chipped teeth may require Veneers, ultra-thin sculpted pieces of tooth-colored porcelain that fit over the front of your teeth.

At first, the dentist will check and examine your tooth. To prepare a tooth for a veneer, your dentist will remove the enamel from the tooth surface, which is an amount nearly equal to the thickness of the veneer to be added to the tooth surface. Next, your dentist will make an impression (mould) of your tooth. The veneer color can be adjusted with the shade of cement to be used. Next, your tooth will be cleaned, polished, and etched -- Once properly position on the tooth, your dentist will apply a special light beam to the dental veneer, which activates chemicals in the cement causing it to harden or cure very quickly. The final steps involve removing any excess cement, evaluating your bite and making any final adjustments in the veneer as necessary.  The Veneer could be removed technicially by dentist if needed.  

Reference information: www.bjdental.com

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your Dentist for diagnosis and treatment.

Orthodontic treatment

Orthodontic treatment is a series of processes that move the teeth to the desired positions in the mouth by orthodontic appliances. Whether you have crowding, spacing or relapsed teeth, it would pose negative impact on the health of your teeth and gums.

There are two types of braces. One can be removed for cleaning, known as removable braces. The second type of braces is fixed to the teeth and cannot be removed for cleaning. Orthodontic brackets are attached to the tooth surfaces in appropriate positions so that when the orthodontic brackets and orthodontic wire are tied up, the spring back action of the orthodontic wire will move the teeth, Gradually, the teeth are moved to the desired positions determined by the shape of the orthodontic wire. It is important you still have check-ups and adjustment regularly.

Have the brace fitted is not painful. However, it is common to have slightly tender teeth for 3-5 days after each fitting and adjustment appointment.

Comparisons of two types of orthodontic treatment - fixed brace and removable brace

	Fixed Brace	Removable brace
Removable	Cannot	Can
Treatment duration	1.5-3 years	0.5-1years
Materials	elastics or stainless steel wires	springs and screws

	Invisalign	General orthodontic treatment
Materials	Medical grade plastic	elastics or stainless steel wires
Appearance	Invisible	Non-invisible

Reference information: www.dental.org , www.bjdental.com/

以上所提供的資訊僅作為教育及參考用途，如果你有任何醫療問題，
應向牙醫查詢，而不應單倚賴以上提供的資料。

Sensitive teeth

If enamel has been worn off or damaged, then it will lose its protective function and the dentine will be exposed. The dentine has many fine dentinal tubules connecting to the pulp. The patient will suffer sharp pain when feel stimulated.

To protect from damaging enamel, you should not brush with a toothbrush with bristles that are too hard, or brushing with excessive force can abrade the enamel of teeth. Also, you should avoid frequently eating or drinking highly acidic food or beverages and frequent grinding of teeth.

What is/are the treatment(s) for sensitive teeth?

1) Apply topical fluoride on the tooth surface or perform a filling according to the condition in order to obstruct the exposed dentine tubules.

2) Use desensitizing toothpaste to relieve tooth sensitivity. You should consult your dentist before purchasing or using this type of toothpaste.

3) Use a “mouth guard” made by the dentist to avoid further attrition of teeth.

Reference information: www.bjdental.com

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your Dentist for diagnosis and treatment.