Dental health

Sonia had a severe toothache. She could not eat anything nor could she go to school. Studying at home was
also impossible due to pain. She was not able to sleep also.

Sonia:Oaa... Maa...it's unbearable.

"We must visit a dentist," said her uncle, Ashokbhai. The same evening they were at the Dental Care Clinic of Dr. Sharma. Dr. Bansi Sharma is a young and
competent doctor.
Dr. Sharma: Hello young lady! What's the matter with you?
Sonia (With difficulty): U..... maa! Ahh doctor, I have a terrible toothache.

Dr. Sharma :I can see. Let me check it. Sit in the chair, please.

(Sonia sits in the Dental Chair. The doctor switches on the headlight.)

Dr. Sharma Now open your mouth and say aah....

Sonia (Opening her mouth a little bit, slowly): Aaah...! Sorry, doctor. I can't open my mouth any wider thanthis.

Dr. Sharma's mouth) I can see. I That's OK. (moving the mouth mirror and the probe in Sonia's 1see a black spot on one of your molars. There seems to be a cavity there. :A cavity?:Yes, a cavity and quite a big one. I am prescribing some medicines today. The pain will subside by tomorrow. Only then the further treatment is possible. Can you come back tomorrow? I will be out of station tomorrow.

Well, Sonia can come alone. She is a brave girl.Yes, doctor. I'll have to.

II

Ashokbhai (startled)

Dr. Sharma

Ashokbhai

Dr. Sharma

Sonia

Next day Sonia felt better. She did not have much pain. She visited the doctor again at the fixed time.

Dr. Sharma

Sonia

How do you feel today, young lady?

Much better.

(Dr. Sharma cleaned the cavity with an air rotor. Then she filled it with a white substance known as Light

Cured Composite Filling Material. It contains synthetic resin, silica as filler and photo activator etc.)

Dr. Sharma

Yes, it's done. Thank you for keeping your mouth open without speaking a word. As Sonia was the last patient that day, the doctor could spare time to talk to her.

Sonia

Dr. Sharma

Sonia

Dr. Sharma

:Doctor, would you tell me why I got this cavity?

:Well, tell me one thing. Are you fond of sweets?

: Yes, I am. I love eating chocolates and ice cream as well as other sweets.

And now tell me one more thing. Do you brush your teeth regularly twice a day? Do

you clean your mouth after meals and after eating chocolates or icecream? No, doctor. I brush my teeth only in the morning.

Sonia
Dr. Sharma

Sonia

Dr. Sharma

That's the problem! You are not taking proper care of your teeth. You must brush your teeth properly twice a day-once in the morning and once again before you go to bed. What is the right way of brushing the teeth, doctor?

Most of the people brush their teeth while moving the brush in sideways only. But the right way is to move it upward and downward so that it removes the tiny bits of food stuck between the teeth. The gum lines should also be brushed with gentle strokes. Not only this, clean your mouth after every meal and every time you eat a chocolate or ice cream. Would you tell me the reason, doctor?

Cleaning of mouth is the first requirement of dental hygiene. If you don't clean your mouth, the tiny bits of food inside stick to the surface of your teeth and in the space between your teeth. Now germs feed on these food particles who eventually eat up parts of the teeth too! They destroy the enamel coating of the teeth, and in a long run it leads to cavity.

Sonia :Enamel coating? What's that?

Dr. Sharma

For that you need to understand the construction of our teeth. Our teeth have three layers. The uppermost white layer is called enamel. It is the hardest and strongest part of our body. The second layer is called dentin. It is slightly yellowish. The innermost layer is called dental pulp. In your molar, there was a cavity which now no more exists. :Molar? What is it?

:It's a kind of teeth. Look at the chart. There are two types of teeth - deciduous teeth, also known as milk teeth, and permanent teeth. Deciduous teeth are usually 20 in number and they shed one by one after growth. Thereafter, new permanent teeth come up. They are usually 32 in number. :Yes, I also have 32 teeth but they

all are not the same.

Sonia

Dr. Sharma

Sonia

Dr. Sharma

Sonia

Dr. Sharma :They are different in shape, size and functions. There are four incisors, two canines, four

premolars and four or six molars in each jaw.

:Can I ask you a few questions about my friends' dental problems?

:Oh! Sure dear!

Pooja, one of my classmates slipped off a staircase and she has some fractured teeth. What should she do?

Well, she needs to consult a dentist. After examining her teeth, the dentist will suggest the restoration of the teeth with Light-Cured Composite Filling Material.

Sonia

Dr. Sharma

Sonia

Dr. Sharma

Sonia :OK. I have another friend named Dhara. She has uneven growth of teeth. Her teeth are not

properly grown. She feels very embarrassed at times. Any advice for her?

:No one should feel embarrassed about physical deformity. Her problem is called crowding. Now, there is a solution for this problem also. The patient has to go for an orthodontic treatment. The braces will bring her teeth in proper alignment.

Dr. Sharma
Sonia

Dr. Sharma

Sonia

Should I ask her to see you?

:No, she will have to consult an orthodontist.

Thank you very much for your valuable suggestions. Indeed dental science has advanced a lot. I will ask her to consult an orthodontist.

Hmmm. Now I am thinking of taking up a project on Dental Health

because we have to work on a project in science and I think this is a very useful topic.

You can come for guidance for your project if you need.

:It's so nice of you!