Tooth decay process can be reversed at early stage

“Caries, or tooth decay, is a common oral disease, and it destroys the tooth's enamel and dentine. The process can be reversed at its early stage, otherwise a cavity would form in the dentine,” stated Dr Durr-e-Sadaf, Consultant Operative Dentistry at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi (AKUH,K). She was speaking at AKUH's ‘Signs, Symptoms and Care' programme.

Neighbouring teeth are affected when a permanent tooth is lost: as the support and chewing forces are altered, remaining teeth begin to shift. This accelerates gum disease and causes further breakdown in the dental arch. If the missing tooth is not replaced, more teeth will eventually be lost.

The swelling of the gums is a common problem. Other symptoms of gum disease are red or soft gums, bad breath, and an unpleasant taste in the mouth. Bleeding gums may be a sign of unhealthy gum tissue.

Instructor, Operative Dentistry at AKUH,K, Dr Farhan Raza Khan, said that children who consume large amounts of sweetened food experience tooth decay. Dental cavities formation is a universal problem affecting all communities globally. Children, on account of their bad eating habits are at a higher risk of getting dental cavities.

Premature tooth loss can cause an emotional and psychological impact on a child's development. Advancement in dental sciences has provided dentists with better understanding of dental caries and at the same time technological advances has made better diagnostic and therapeutic methods available to the dental profession.

Talking on  ‘Artificial Teeth from Dentures to Dental Implants', Dr Azfar A. Siddiqui, Associate Professor and Head of the Section of Dentistry, explained the various types of dental prostheses used to restore and improve function and aesthetics, such as removable, partial and complete dentures.

Consultant Orthodontist Dr Attiya Shaikh said in her presentation ‘Braces improves your Smile' that braces are not only for children. Presently 20 per cent of orthodontic patients are over 18 and people as old as 60 have had successful orthodontic treatment. However it is advised that orthodontic treatment should start between the ages of 8 to 14. Braces can assure a child's health throughout his/her lifetime.

As part of its outreach programme and societal commitment to creating awareness of early diagnosis and timely treatment, AKUH has organised over 250 ‘Signs, Symptoms and Care' programmes in Karachi, Hyderabad, Quetta, Nawabshah, and UAE, benefiting more than 50,000 people. AKUH's Patient Welfare Programme offers financial assistance to those patients who are unable to afford the medical cost of treatment. Since the inception of this welfare programme in 1986, over PKR 1.6 billion has been disbursed to more than 300,000 needy patients.

For further information, please contact:

Rasool Sarang, Sr. Media Executive, at 486-3920 or rasool.sarang@aku.edu; Hassaan Akhter, Media Executive, at 486-2927 or hassaan.akhter@aku.edu.

Department of Public Affairs
Aga Khan University
Stadium Road, P.O. Box 3500, Karachi-74000
Fax: 92 21493 4294, 493 2095