ROUTINE CHECK-UPS

By Dr. Vangelis Athusakis, Pathologist
(Part one of this column appeared in the December, 2008, edition)

Part II

With regard to women, preventive medical care includes a Pap test, which tests for pre malignant and malignant cells in the cervix, every three years at least, from the start of sexual activity until the age of 65 (or until a hysterectomy for non-malignant situations).

From the age of thirty, women should be encouraged to receive sufficient quantities of calcium with their diet and to exercise regularly. All women planning a pregnancy should receive a supplement of folic acid before conception and until childbirth. Tests for HIV infection should be done for each pregnant woman.

A mammography should be done, every one or two years beginning with the age of forty, and every year after 50. It is important to note that checking for lumps yourself is not enough. A woman should opt for a breast examination upon each visit with her doctor.

The health of bones is a problem with women close to menopause and the doctor should begin early testing, for women as well as men, and especially when danger factors exist for osteoporosis, or chronic hyperthyroidism, neurogenous anorexia and other peptic disturbances, a history of treatment for prostate problems, a history of corticosteroid treatment, a history of premature menopause, being underweight and an individual history of fractures.

ROOT CANAL WORK

By Nikos Papadakis, Dental Surgeon

The endodontical treatment otherwise known as “root canal work” is a common practice in dentistry today. It could be said that it saves teeth because it has replaced the need for extractions. Although this practice has been known since ancient times, it has only been applied systematically in the last few years because, until recently, the practice that prevailed was "if the tooth aches pull it."

What is root canal work: The tooth constitutes a living web which is surrounded by dentin and adamantine, which is the hardest substance in the human body. When microbes infiltrate the tooth interior, which is made up of nerve fibres, vessels, and a multitude of other cellular elements, then most likely decay will occur and, if left untreated, tooth necroses follows. In this case, root canal must take place (a chemo-mechanical work of the root canals containing the dead webbing).

Ways and means: This is a complicated process for which many methods and tools exist – too numerous to mention. However, there are dentists specializing on just root canal work.

Objective: The treatment aims to eradicate the root canals from microbes and the placement of permanent filling material that isolates the region from the microbes.   

Restrictions-disadvantages: The process requires many appointments and a lot of time. Also, during the treatment a total isolation of the tooth is required, which is not always feasible. Sometimes, a repeat of the treatment is necessary, and other times, if it's not successful the tooth is extracted any way.

After the treatment: The treated tooth is essentially a dead tooth surrounded by living webs and alveolar bone. This results in the tooth being easily broken. That is why the tooth in question should soon be capped. If not, it also runs the danger of developing decay and not being felt by the person because there are no nerve endings.  

Conclusion: This treatment should be done with meticulousness by the dentist despite its difficulties, as it helps to maintain the dental barrier.

NEW STUDY FINDS
EARLY OBESITY

According to a new study, childhood obesity, which is prevalent on Crete and is
a major cause of diabetes, sets in before the age of five, a finding which dispels
the general theory that kids pick up bad eating habits
once they're out of the house and going to school.

The EarlyBird Diabetes study of 233 children from birth to puberty found that
most of their excess weight gain happened before school age,
and suggests that initiatives to prevent childhood obesity should begin
before they reach five years of age.