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The Budget & Your Dental Health

June Shannon takes a look at the implications of #Budget17 for dental patients.

On budget day earlier this month the Department of Social Protection announced that changes to the dental and optical treatment schemes would benefit 2.5 million people.

The details are still unclear as to exactly what dental treatments PRSI workers and the self-employed will be entitled to as a result of #Budget17 and any changes will have to be negotiated with dentists who provide treatment under the schemes before patients see the benefits.

The PRSI Dental Scheme was established in 1952 and under the scheme PRSI workers were entitled to a range of treatments including an annual oral exam, gum cleaning, fillings, extractions and root canal treatment. However in Budget 2010 the range of treatments available was significantly reduced with the result that PRSI workers were only entitled to on oral examination once a year.

The Irish Dental Association (IDA) has long campaigned for a restoration to the PRSI dental benefit scheme for dental health however the association gave a cautious welcome to the recent Budget announcement.

Commenting, the Chief Executive of the IDA, Mr Fintan Hourihan said dentists had been campaigning for the return of grant in aid benefits to hard-pressed workers and their families since savage unilateral cuts were made to the Dental Treatment Benefit Scheme in 2010.

However he warned that the Department of Social Protection would have to engage in talks with the IDA before any proposed changes come into force.

“Very few details are available at this stage on the precise nature of Minister Varadkar’s proposals. Dentists are not currently contracted to treat the self-employed so this will require contract talks to take place between the Department and the IDA. Separate negotiations on the other proposed changes, so far unspecified, for currently eligible PRSI contributors will also be required.”

“Recently the IDA warned the Department of Social Protection that any changes or proposed new scheme would have to be guided by best practice. Any changes would also need to be evidence based for patients as well as being economically viable for dentists” Mr Hourihan added.

According to the Irish Dentists Association (IDA), “currently, over 2 million PRSI contributors and their dependent spouses remain eligible for the free dental examination. The Dental Treatment Benefit Scheme was availed of by 312,659 people during 2015 at a cost of €10.3 million. In 2009, the last year the scheme operated unrestricted, the cost of the scheme was €62.3 million.

It is unlikely therefore that dental patients will see any of the benefits announced in Budget 2017 until after the outcome of negotiations between the IDA and Government, which, in reality, could take some time.

Another bone of contention in #Budget17 was the introduction of a ‘sugar tax’ or tax on soft fizzy drinks, which was widely expected to be introduced but postponed in its introduction until 2018.

On the same day, the World Health Organisation (WHO) published a report which urged all countries to tax sugary drinks. According to the WHO “taxing sugary drinks can lower consumption and reduce obesity, type 2 diabetes and tooth decay and improve dental health”.

WHO stated that “fiscal policies that lead to at least a 20 per cent increase in the retail price of sugary drinks would result in proportional reductions in consumption of such products”. “Reduced consumption of sugary drinks means lower intake of “free sugars” and calories overall, improved nutrition and fewer people suffering from overweight, obesity, diabetes and tooth decay,” the WHO stated.

In its ‘Programme for Partnership Government” published earlier this year, the Government made a commitment to “make a number of key public health interventions” including the introduction of “a health levy on sugar-sweetened drinks (SSD).”

The British Dental Association (BDA) estimated that nearly a quarter of the added sugar in our diet comes from soft drinks and children aged 11-18 get 40 per cent of their added sugars from soft drinks.

Last year the IDA revealed that 10,000 children under 15 were being hospitalised every year in Ireland for dental extractions under general anaesthetic, and the IDA estimated that these dental health figures could be up to five times higher than the UK.

“The Department of Finance’s public consultation process will now seek input from stakeholders, including SSD producers, in terms of how to impose the new tax in a way which ensures that the health objectives of the tax are met, that Revenue is enabled to collect it efficiently, fairly and effectively, and that compliance with the tax is not overly onerous on producers. The tax must also be designed so that it is compliant with EU State aid rules. Finally, the design of the tax must take into account cross-border issues, and so should complement the proposed soft drinks industry levy which is due to be imposed in the UK from April 2018.”

The public consultation process is now open and it will run until 5pm on Tuesday January 3^rd 2017. Contact us today for more information.

To Floss or Not to Floss?

Earlier in the summer media reports suggested that the health claims for dental flossing were unproven due to a lack of long-term studies. The issue received widespread media attention and caused a lot of confusion among the general public. The question remained To Floss or not to Floss?

According to Dr Kieran Davitt, Group Clinical Advisor, Dental Care Ireland, while the media reports pointed to a lack of long-term studies or evidence to prove that flossing was effective in reducing dental decay, from a clinical point of view, “every dentist and every hygienist would notice a big difference in a patient’s oral health” if they are flossing regularly.

Flossing reduces decay but it will also improve your gum health as well, Dr Davitt stated.

According to Dr Davitt reports questioning the effectiveness of flossing have been a little misleading.

“From a clinical point of view we can tell the difference if a patient is flossing…it will reduce bleeding in the gums and the gums will be in much better shape. It makes sense if food is caught in between back teeth you need to remove it,” he stated.

Dr Davitt said he wanted to reassure patients and encourage them to continue to floss once a day as it reduces dental cavities and improves gum health.

He said while there are various ways to floss, the standard method involved winding standard floss around your index fingers, placing it between the teeth and move it up and down a number of times.

“There are other types of floss like flosettes that some patients prefer because they have a handle on them so they can get into back teeth a little bit better, but it is up to the individual. Sometimes the floss on a handle or the flosettes can be a little bit more expensive, so if you can get used to the standard tape, the standard floss, it is not as expensive,” Dr Davitt explained.

Another option is interdental brushes, which look like tiny bottle brushes. These come in different sizes depending on the interdental space.

“Sometimes for patients the space in between the teeth might be a little bit wider and if you are flossing, then it probably isn’t as effective in some of those spaces. If you have spaces between back teeth sometimes the interdental brushes are a bit more effective. Whereas if you have front teeth that are very tight together, it would be difficult to get an interdental brush in there, so you are better off with floss,” he added.

According to the Dental Health Foundation Ireland, periodontal or gum disease is a pathological inflammatory condition of the gum and bone support surrounding the teeth. Most Irish adults suffer from some form of periodontal disease: based on the most recent national oral health survey, only 18 per cent of 16–24 year olds, 8 per cent of 35–44 year olds and 7 per cent of older people aged 65 years and over have healthy gums.

The two most common periodontal diseases are: gingivitis – inflammation of the gum at the necks of the teeth, and periodontitis – inflammation affecting the bone and tissues of the teeth.

As Dr Davitt stated regular flossing can help to keep your gums healthy and while this is very important for your overall oral health, it can be equally important for your overall physical health as well.

The link between oral health and overall physical health has been well proven with research suggesting that gum disease may increase the risk of a number of health conditions including stroke, heart disease and diabetes.

“When people present to us with gum disease we stress to them that the first issue here is the gum disease and you are at risk of losing your teeth or losing gum attachment, but there is the risk of cardiovascular disease as well. You really should be looking at your overall health and systemic health. If somebody comes in with gum disease there is an increased risk of cardiovascular disease as well,” Dr Davitt stated.

According to Dr Davitt there are a number of systemic diseases that can affect gum health and these include diabetes.

“Anyone with diabetes would be much more prone to gum disease. Somebody with diabetes whether it is type 1 or type 2 should be attending a dentist or hygienist for regular check ups and cleanings”.

According to Dr Davitt the main take home message from the great floss debate would be not to be put off by the recent reports and to continue to floss every day.

“Every dentist would still recommend that you should be brushing at least twice and day and flossing once a day. Absolutely, we would still recommend flossing.”

Book Your Oral Cancer Screening Today

Book Your Oral Cancer Screening Today

According to the Irish Cancer Society (ICS) there are more than 300 cases of cancer of the mouth (oral cavity and pharynx) reported in Ireland every year.

While traditionally oral cancer was more common in men than women, the ICS states that this is changing and the incidence rate of oral cancer has increased significantly in women at a rate of 3 per cent per year.

The ICS also states that while oral cancer mainly affects older people younger people are now also being diagnosed.

In Britain, the incidence of mouth cancer has increased faster than any other cancer in the past 25 years and according to the National Cancer Registry in Ireland, roughly half of all mouth cancers and even less of cancers of the pharynx are diagnosed at an early stage.

According to the ICS while it depends on the cancer site, more than half of those with oral cancer who get treatment will have good survival outcomes and this continues to improve each year.

Early detection of oral cancer greatly improves the chances of survival and this is why oral cancer awareness day is so important.

Dentists have a key role to play in the early detection of mouth cancer and in the prevention of the disease by identifying those patients who are exposed to risk factors.

Dr Kieran Davitt, dentist and Group Clinical Advisor, Dental Care Ireland, said Oral Cancer Awareness Day was a great intiative and he would encourage everyone to attend their dentist for a free screen, particularly those who have not attended a dentist in recent years.

Dr Davitt explained that an oral cancer screen takes just five minutes and during the check-up the dentist is looking for a number of things. These include any lumps or bumps, swellings, ulcers that do not heal and hardened tissue in the mouth.

“We try and encourage everybody or anybody who hasn’t been to the dentist in a number of years to come in and get a free screening, it only takes five minutes,” Dr Davitt explained.

“It is just to rule out any problems that patients may have. If anybody was worried about any little bump or swelling, or anything that has been there at all, we would always stress to them to come in, but also patients who haven’t been for a number of years, even if they don’t feel anything,” he added.

2016 marks the sixth year of the oral cancer awareness campaign it was first established in 2010 by a group of mouth, head and neck cancer survivors. On that occasion, more than 3,000 people queued outside the Cork and Dublin Dental University Hospitals for a free mouth cancer examination.

For the examination Dr Davitt explained that the dentist checks all the teeth, the gums all the soft tissue in the mouth.

“We palpate all the tissue, cheeks under the tongue, hard and soft palate and neck for any swellings, gland swellings it is not invasive and there would be no reason for any patients to be worried about it”.

“What we are looking for is anything out of the ordinary, any swellings, any ulcers that may not heal, any hardened tissue… in some cases it might be very normal. A patient might feel a little bump but it might be perfectly normal.

But if we were worried about it at all we can refer the patient to a specialist centre to get a biopsy and rule out any underlying problems,” he added.

The main risk factors associated with oral cancer include excessive smoking and drinking, chewing tobacco betel quid or paan, excessive exposure to sunlight or radiation (for lip cancer), a diet lacking in fruit and vegetables and viral infections, e.g., human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV can be spread through oral sex.

Dr Davitt said that the combination of excessive smoking and drinking together could significantly increase the risk of developing oral cancer.

“The two main causes would be smoking and alcohol and if it is excessive smoking and excessive alcohol intake combined, that increases your risk hugely,” he stated.

Encouraging everyone to attend for an oral cancer screen Dr Davitt said: “If you are worried about anything in the mouth, or if you just haven’t seen a dentist in the last couple of years …try and attend for a screen. It just takes 5 minutes and it is a very simple check”.

Cases of concern to general dental practitioners will be referred to the Dental Hospitals for further management.

To book your oral cancer screening at Dental Care Ireland visit our practices page.

Anyone who has concerns about mouth cancer can speak with a specialist nurse in confidence by calling the National Cancer Helpline on Freephone 1800 200 700.

For further information visit www.mouthcancerawareness.ie.

Do You Have Sensitive Teeth?

Do you have sensitive teeth?

Do you experience pain in your teeth when you drink a hot or cold drink? Are there some foods you avoid because you know they will irritate your teeth? Many people ignore sensitivity in their teeth but for some people sensitivity can be a serious issue that affects their enjoyment of food and drink. So what are the causes of sensitive teeth and what can you do about it?

What is Sensitivity?

Sensitivity is a sharp sensation that you might experience when you consume something either very hot or something very cold. Although it is generally brief and you will only experience a short burst of pain it can be very uncomfortable and may often force you to avoid the substance that triggered the pain. The worst offenders are tea, coffee, ice cream or even soup.

What Causes Sensitivity?

Sensitivity is caused by the weakening of the enamel layer that forms a protective covering over the tooth. It causes dentin – the part of the tooth that covers the nerve to become exposed. Once the dentin is exposed the things we eat will come into direct contact with the nerve endings in the mouth and hence trigger pain.

Reasons for Sensitivity:

Dentists believe that sensitivity can be caused by a number of reasons as follows:

Periodontal Gum Disease.
Brushing teeth with too much force and pressure, causing the weakening of the enamel.
Tooth erosion due to Bulimia or gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.
Gum recession which is exposing the root surfaces.

People need to realise that sensitivity may not be the only problem at hand.

How to treat sensitivity?

Dentists generally recommend treating the root cause behind the pain and discomfort. They might recommend restoration or implants. In some cases the sensitivity can be cleared up simply by:

Correct brushing of teeth – with low pressure.
Changing your toothbrush to one a softer one.
Using a special toothpaste that can help overcome sensitivity.

For more information on Dental Care Ireland’s practices and treatments check out our locations.

Back to School? Check out our Healthy Lunchbox Ideas

Back to School – Healthy Lunchbox Ideas

It’s that time of year again – long winter nights and busy early mornings. To make your transition back to school a bit easier, we’ve put together some ideas for some healthy lunchboxes for the kids.

Sandwiches – No school lunch box blog would be complete without mentioning the lunchbox staple – the sandwich. Sandwiches don’t have to be boring. Check out some the recipies below for some healthy meat free and even bread free options!

Bread-Free – So if your kids have a wheat allergy or you’d just rather not give them bread every lunchtime, you could check out some alternatives. For example, you could wrap up some filings in iceberg lettuce leaves or roll up some salad in a slice of meat offering an easy alternative to the bread sandwich.

Meat-Free – Most kids love a good ham sandwich but if you’d rather not give the kids meat everyday and find it hard to get them to eat anything else, check out this cheesey alternative or try this scrumptious Apple and Cheddar sandwich. The Happy Pear are also always good for meat free options.

Bento Box – Anybody who’s been to Yo Sushi with the kids will know how much they love it and Sushi is generally a healthy option! So why not turn the lunchbox into their very own Bento Box. You can buy Sushi in most supermarkets these days or you can make it yourself and make it as colourful as you like but beware – this one will take a bit more preparation! Check out some more Bento Box ideas.

Yoghurt – Yoghurt is a healthy way to have a slightly sweet treat after a savoury snack at lunchtime. As long as you go for a low sugar fruit based option and use a small treat sized yoghurt, with regular teeth cleaning, it should be perfectly safe for your child’s teeth.

Fruit – A piece of fruit is another way to give your child a small slightly sweet treat without harming their teeth. Keep in mind that fruit is high in sugar however so we would recommend as with everything, to have it in moderation. Too much fruit during the day is not necessarily good for you or your teeth!

Drink – Avoid fruit drinks and smoothies that can often be billed as healthy but tend to be high in sugar and bad for your teeth. Go for a small child’s size bottle of water if possible or a small carton of milk.

Sweet Treats – Thankfully most schools advise against bringing treats into the classroom with maybe an exception sometimes on a Friday. It’s no harm to put a small treat into the lunchbox once a week and it adds to the child’s excitement and enjoyment around eating.

Do’s and Dont’s of Teeth Whitening

Thinking about whitening your teeth? Check out our do’s and dont’s of teeth whitening first:

1) Do – Visit your Dentist First

At Dental Care Ireland, we would always recommend that the first step in deciding whether or not to whiten your teeth should be taken in consultation with your dentist. Our whitening kits are tried and tested and proven not to cause any harm to your teeth. Your dentist will need to examine your teeth for any other underlying issues prior to whitening.

So, find a good dentist, preferably registered with the Irish Dental Association and make an appointment for a teeth whitening consultation.

At the consultation, your dentist will examine your teeth and take x-rays to make sure the teeth are healthy and suitable for whitening. S/he will then take impressions of your teeth to make the teeth whitening trays for use with your home whitening kit.

2) Don’t – Whiten your teeth if you have an underlying reason for discolouration

On examination, your dentist might discover another source of the discolouration of your teeth other than the wear and tear of life. Conditions such as abscessed teeth, decay and plaque will not go away with whitening and need to be treated before you commence your whitening programme.

3) Do – take into account aesthetic considerations.

Not all teeth are suitable to be whitened. For example, whitening can accentuate a gummy smile or root exposure or perhaps your teeth are too sensitive or translucent. You and may be better off in these instances to consider other cosmetic options. Similarly, whitening will have no effect on white (tooth-coloured) fillings, porcelain crowns and veneers – they will remain the same shade. Your dentist will be able to advise you on the most suitable option for you and your teeth.

4) Don’t – undertake teeth whitening unless you’ve got time!

Whitening your teeth involves a bit of time investment. Basic low-level whitening treatments start at about 10 days and depending on the sensitivity of your teeth, it could take longer. Be prepared to dedicate an hour each evening to the couch and avoid food and drink that can stain the teeth such as coffee and red wine.

5) Do – Show off your New Teeth and Winning Smile!

Go out, take as many selfies as possible and flash that winning smile! You deserve it

* Note that not all teeth are susceptible to whitening and some teeth might be particularly sensitive to the procedure. We recommend you speak to your dentist before undergoing any dental treatment*

Dental Care Ireland is currently offering a whitening package for bridal parties. For more information on any aspect of teeth whitening, contact your local Dental Care Ireland practice.

Pregnancy and Your Teeth

Did you know that your gums are more prone to gum disease when you’re pregnant?

We’ve put some tips together for looking after your teeth while pregnant to help avoid gum disease and tooth decay.

Gum Disease

Due to the hormonal changes during pregnancy, gums can become more sensitive, which leads to increased inflammation and bleeding and risk of gum disease. We commonly refer to this as pregnancy gingivitis/gum disease. If left untreated, it can develop into full Periodontal Disease, which infects the bone and other tissue supporting the teeth.

It is important therefore to keep the teeth and gums as clean and healthy as possible, even more so during pregnancy. The best way is to continue to practice good oral hygiene techniques and maybe to give your teeth a good extra clean reaching in to the hard to reach areas. Keep a close eye on your gums and watch out for bleeding and swelling.

Morning Sickness

If you’re unlucky enough to develop morning sickness, then you may be keen to reach for the toothbrush after to freshen your breath. When you are sick, you expose your teeth to acid and by brushing your teeth straight away you are adding to the damage as the acid from your stomach will have softened the enamel on your teeth. Instead, rinse your mouth with water and an alcohol-free mouthwash.

Diet

You will have no-end of advice on what to eat and not to eat during pregnancy and for further information on these visit the HSE’s pages on pregnancy care.

The big food and drink offenders when it comes to your teeth are food and drinks high in sugar, alcohol and caffeine. We would recommend avoiding these whether pregnant or not!

Dental work during pregnancy

Most dentists will try to avoid doing anything other than basic dental work during pregnancy. It is safe to continue to visit your dentist and hygienist for a check up and routine dental work. However, if more serious work is necessary then make sure to plan it carefully to ensure you and your baby’s safety. Dental X Rays should be avoided while pregnant.

Most importantly Please make sure you tell your dentist you are pregnant.

Useful Links:

For information on your dental care options visit the HSE’s site.

For tips and advice on healthy eating, visit Safefood Ireland.

List of all Dental Care Ireland practices.

Dental Care Ireland Ashbourne Opening Offers

To celebrate the opening of our brand new practice on High Street Ashbourne, we are offering 10% off all dental treatments for the month of July.

We are also offering half price check-ups including scale and polish.

To book simply contact our Ashbourne practice.

Top 5 Teeth Offenders

We’ve all heard the discussions on sugar tax and childhood obesity. But what about the effects of sugar on our teeth?

Unfortunately sugar is the enemy of teeth as well and we need to limit the amount of sugary and acidic foods we take in for the sake of our general oral health and to prevent tooth decay.

To help you out, we’ve put together the following list of five sneaky teeth offenders to watch out for:

Mints
We’re all prone to popping a mint after a meal or in between meetings. However, mints contain high levels of sugar and should be avoided. If you’re regularly sucking or chomping on mints, you’re opening up your teeth to major sugar and acid attacks.

Sugary drinks
No big surprise here! We’re aware that fizzy drinks are bad for our teeth and don’t be fooled by the attraction of diet and sugar free options – the bubbles and acid are still wreaking havoc on your teeth. Our advice is to limit or completely reduce the sugary / fizzy drinks that you consume for the sake of your teeth if nothing else!

What you might not be as aware of is the harmful effects of seemingly ‘healthy’ drinks such as juices and smoothies on our teeth. These drinks are often very high in acid and sugar and expose people, particularly children, to the same risk of tooth decay. Our advice? Go for water every time!

Sports and energy drinks
Sports and high energy drinks often contain a huge amount of sugar. Sipping on a sports drink throughout your workout is going to expose your teeth to prolonged sugar and acid attacks, leading to decay.

Sticky, chewy sweets
We all know sweets contain high levels of sugar. The chewy, sticky sweets you get are particularly bad as they are likely to get stuck in gaps and hard to reach places on the teeth and cause decay.

Soft breads and pastries (starchy foods)
Your morning Danish pastry can lie in hiding, lurking in the depths of your teeth, causing damage and decay throughout the day. Some of these pastries are obviously high in sugar but others such as white bread can have hidden sugar which also causes decay when left in the teeth all day.

For tips on healthy eating and snacking visit Safe Food Ireland.

Illness & Disease

Gum Disease

Gum disease is an infection of the tissues surrounding the teeth. Infection leads to a red, swollen and tender area. This area often bleeds when the teeth are brushed or the tender area is touched.

Gum disease occurs when large amounts of bacteria stick together to form a sticky substance called dental plaque. Plaque is found where the gum and the teeth meet. It can cause extreme irritation which leads to a red, swollen and tender area.

As the area becomes more swollen the gums separate from the teeth leading to the development of a pocket where more dental plaque lives and eventually damages the gum and kills the bone around the tooth.

Approximately 80% of Irish people have got some degree of gum disease with the level worsening as we get older.

Halitosis

Halitosis, better known as bad breath, is a common reason why people attend their dentist. In about 90% of genuine halitosis cases, the origin of the odour is in the mouth itself. The most common location for mouth related halitosis is the tongue.

Not all who think they have halitosis have a genuine problem and there are a number of simple effective measures to combat bad breath:

Gently cleaning the tongue surface twice daily is the most effective way to keep bad breath in control. Eating a healthy breakfast with rough foods helps clean the very back of the tongue.
Chewing sugarless gum can help with the production of saliva, and thereby help to reduce bad breath. Maintaining proper oral hygiene, including daily tongue cleaning, brushing, flossing, and periodic visits to dentists and hygienists.

Mouth wash

Mouth wash will help to freshen breath and fight tooth decay but should never replace regular brushing and flossing.

Mouth, head and neck cancer

Mouth, head and neck cancer is the sixth most common cancer in men worldwide with over 400 cases diagnosed in Ireland each year. It is mainly diagnosed in men and primarily affects older people but more women and young people have been diagnosed in recent years. If caught early your chances of survival are greatly increased and regular visits to your dentist will assist this as a routine visit includes a check for any abnormalities.

Mouth, head and neck cancer can affect your lips, gums, cheeks, tongue, palate, tonsil, throat (oropharynx), salivary glands, sinuses, nose and voice box (larynx).

Some symptoms to be aware of are:

A sore or ulcer that doesn’t heal
White or red patches inside your mouth
Difficulty chewing or swallowing food
Numbness of the tongue or face
Loose teeth
These could be symptoms of other ailments but if they persist longer than three weeks always attend your doctor or dentist.

To reduce your risk between visits to your dentist:

Don’t smoke
Limit your intake of alcohol
Use a lip balm that contains sun block
Eat a healthy diet high in fruit and vegetables
Check your mouth regularly for changes, for example, when brushing your teeth
Visit your dentist regularly, even if you have no teeth and wear dentures

Diabetes and periodontal disease

Periodontal disease includes conditions known as gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) and periodontitis (destruction of the tissues which hold the teeth in place). People who have diabetes are more at risk as they tend to have high or fluctuating blood glucose levels. They may also have more difficulty fighting the germs which cause it.

Periodontal disease can cause an infection which destroys the bone supporting your teeth if it is not detected or treated. As the gum disease progresses, symptoms might include tooth loosening or moving, bad breath, or bleeding gums.