Refresh your knowledge
Our condition overviews cover the causes and mechanisms behind oral health issues, as well as the impact they have on a patient’s quality of life. We also break down the gold standard guidelines on identification, prevention and management.
Oral health conditions
Sensitivity
Dentine hypersensitivity is a common and often underdiagnosed condition.1 Sufferers describe experiencing a short, sharp pain while eating, drinking, brushing their teeth or breathing cold air, which has a significant impact on their quality of life.2
Enamel wear
Enamel wear is a progressive, multifactorial condition that may have lasting effects.3 Enamel is equipped to respond to daily acid challenges; however, frequent and prolonged acid exposure can lead to progressive demineralisation.3 Changes in diet and increasing life expectancy mean that enamel wear is becoming an increasingly significant challenge in the long-term management of dental health.4
Dry mouth
Saliva plays an important part in maintaining oral health and well-being.5–7 Xerostomia is a subjective feeling of a dry mouth that may be caused by reduced saliva production.8 Dry mouth can negatively impact oral health.5,9
Denture care
Teeth impact how we look and feel.10 According to the Canadian Community Health Survery, 24% of Canadians aged 15 or older reported wearing dentures in 2003.11
Each patient’s experience with dentures will be different. Individual needs surrounding medical concerns, physical and psychological factors, and patient adaptation to dentures can affect how dentures perform.12-15
