Articles from the magazine

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Collaboration between dietitians and physicians of various specialties—endocrinologists, gynecologists, and gastroenterologists—is widely known and practiced. Diet supports the functioning of the thyroid, intestines, and endocrine system. Meanwhile, the oral cavity remains largely neglected. Despite growing awareness of an interdisciplinary approach to health, collaboration between dentists and dietitians remains rare.

Pain is an inherent component of most dental conditions and procedures, constituting the primary reason for patient visits. Effective pain management and prevention are crucial for patient comfort, the healing process, and maintaining patient-doctor cooperation. This article aims to synthesize the current literature on pharmacological and nonpharmacological methods of pain treatment and prevention.

Oral hygiene includes daily care procedures aimed at removing bacterial plaque (biofilm) and food debris from the surfaces of teeth and gums. Neglecting oral hygiene leads to the accumulation of biofilm, which consequently promotes the development of caries, gingivitis, and periodontal disease [1, 2]. Global GBD 2017 data indicate that oral diseases affect about 3.5 billion people worldwide [1], making them a serious public health issue.

PHOTO: © ZIRC DENTAL PRODUCTS

Dentists and dental staff are regularly exposed to numerous epidemiological hazards that can affect their health and safety at work. In everyday practice, dental professionals frequently come into contact with potentially hazardous biological materials—blood, saliva, tissues, and contaminated instruments.

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Frenula are folds of the oral mucosa that connect the lips and cheeks with the mucosa of the alveolar process, the gingiva, and the underlying periosteum. A frenulum may threaten gingival health when it attaches too close to the marginal gingiva, when it is pulled by muscles, or when it interferes with plaque control, thereby impeding oral hygiene procedures.

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An 85-year-old female patient, under my continuous care since 1990, presented in June 2011 due to pain and bleeding of the gingiva in the region of the lower incisors. She complained that the pain prevented her from eating and brushing her teeth.