How does phototherapy work?

Phototherapy uses ultraviolet light to reduce inflammation in the skin; there are various treatment options, including full or partial UVB spectrum treatment (known as broadband UVB and narrowband UVB respectively); UVA treatment usually involves combining UVA treatment with a sensitiser (which makes the skin more sensitive to the light rays) known as psoralen (this is known as PUVA and is sometimes called photochemotherapy).

Phototherapy treatment is usually given as an outpatient treatment and sessions are held between 2 and 5 times per week; typically, the entire course includes between 15 and 30 treatments. The number of sessions you have will depend on your condition, its severity and how well your skin responds to treatment.

Before treatment, a test session will be carried out to see how the skin responds to the light. Some skin conditions get worse when the skin is exposed to the sunlight, in which case this treatment would not be recommended.

When you are having treatment, there are certain things you should avoid doing, including taking medicines that increase your sensitivity to light, using sun beds, eating excessive amounts of citrus fruits and vegetables, which may make you more sensitive to UV light and using perfumed or scented products.

When can phototherapy be used?

Phototherapy can be used to treat a range of skin conditions, including psoriasis, dermatitis, itching, vitiligo, lichen planus, polymorphic light eruption and eczema.

Phototherapy is a temporary treatment and it does not usually cure a condition; many people find that their symptoms return once they have stooped treatment.

Is phototherapy safe?

Phototherapy is usually considered after other treatments have failed; it carries a risk of skin cancer and there are also side-effects, which may include itchiness, dry skin, sore skin, cold sores and blisters. Phototherapy can also cause premature ageing of the skin.

Phototherapy is not suitable for some people; if you have had skin cancer in the past, you have very fair skin, you have lupus or you take immunosuppressants (medication that suppresses the immune system), you may be advised against having this kind of treatment; phototherapy is also not recommended for people who find it difficult to stand for long periods of time.

1. Tooth whitening

Tooth whitening is one of the best-selling cosmetic dental treatments. This simple, safe and highly effective treatment is one of the most affordable and accessible treatments on the market and it has an instant impact on the look of your smile. Dentists recommend Enlighten whitening, a system that combines at-hone and in-chair treatment. Enlighten lightens the shade of the teeth by up to 16 shades and is the only treatment to guarantee B1 shade; the system has been featured on numerous television makeover shows and is a favourite with celebrities. During treatment, patients wear a custom-made whitening tray, which contains whitening agent, during the night for 14 days; on the 15th day, the patient goes to their dentist for a power whitening session, which lasts one hour. The treatment is very simple, safe and there are no side-effects and the results are amazing.

2. Veneers

Anyone who reads gossip magazines or follows celebrity culture will be familiar with veneers. Veneers are like false nails for the teeth, as they are applied over the top of the natural teeth. Veneers are usually made from porcelain, as it looks natural and has a lovely, glossy sheen. Veneers are a popular option for people who have worn, stained or chipped teeth and they have also become very popular as a result of celebrity endorsements with many wanting to add a touch of glamour to their smile.

3. Cosmetic bonding

Cosmetic bonding is a very simple treatment, which makes a major difference to the look of your smile. Bonding is a process, which involves crafting and shaping dental material to repair chipped and worn teeth and close small gaps between the teeth. Usually it takes less than an hour and the results are amazing. Your dentist will use their skills and expertise to mould the material and once they are happy with the look of the teeth, the material will be set hard and you will be ready to show off your new smile.

4. Smile makeover

A smile makeover is the ultimate in cosmetic dentistry; as the name suggests, it is designed to transform your smile into a flawless set of radiant pearly whites. A smile makeover is made up of a series of different treatments, which come together to produce a perfect smile. Popular treatments included in a smile makeover include white fillings and porcelain crowns, veneers, cosmetic braces and tooth whitening.

5. Cosmetic braces

In recent years cosmetic braces have become very popular, especially with adult patients. Cosmetic braces are designed to create beautiful, straight smiles without anyone else being able to see the braces. Popular options include Simpli5, Clearstep and Invisalign. One of the most common reasons people say that they put off having treatment earlier in life is that they didn’t want to be lumbered with unsightly braces; cosmetic braces have provided these people with a solution, which enables them to get the smile they’ve always wanted without worrying about their image.

Battle of Little Bighorn

Those studying Anthropology and History have unearthed stories from Wild West battles such as the Battle of Little Bighorn of 1876. Dentists have even been involved in the use of cutting edge technology to identify the remains of soldiers from their teeth and bones. The battlefields of the Old West are a rich source of information about the identities of people, the state of their health and dentistry practices at the time.

Stories from The Savage

Many stories with a focus on human rights emerge from the Wild West where prostitution was rife. Tales are told about a wild woman who exchanges sexual pleasures with men for a single tooth. Westerns such as Heathens are made to reflect the times that people lived in the Old West.

Tales from Elk Tooth and the O.K. Corral

The teeth of animals were often used to create missing teeth replacements, similar to crowns and dentures. Annie Proulx’s book, Bad Dirt, tells tales about Western folk living in a town called Elk Tooth. Dentist Dara Rogers has written a book about O.K. Corral and Wyatt Earp’s bad teeth, treated by Doc Holliday. Using this Old West story, Rogers proposes current day treatment plans for bad teeth, rotted due to tooth decay and gum infection.

Dangerous Wild West Tooth Extractions

Doc Holliday pulled teeth and possibly used whisky to numb the pain. Wild West dentistry was known to be dangerous, particularly if a dentist was thought to have pulled the wrong tooth such as in the case of gunfighter Clay Allison. Allison used a set of the dentist’s forceps to pull out the dentist’s molar!

American Indian Medicine Man Exorcised Toothaches

The American Indians made use of a tribal medicine man to exorcise the spirits afflicting a person and their teeth. An “X” would be carved in the cheek of the person, over the spot with the throbbing toothache. The medicine man sucked out the evil spirit from the tooth through the “X” cut in the cheek. Herbs and root remedies were used to disinfect and for pain relief on the likely dry skin.

The Settlers’ Alcohol Treatments

The Wild West folk used alcohol to numb toothaches and prepare for raw tooth extractions with a pair of tongs. Blacksmiths were known to be used as dentists for pulling rotten teeth and teeth with abscesses.

Alcohol consumption of the settlers and Old West folk is thought to have contributed to development of tooth decay as their moonshine may have contained high levels of sugar and acid. Booze was often traded for recreational pleasure and as medicine, along with furs and tools.

About invisible braces

Invisible braces were developed to provide orthodontic patients with an aesthetically-pleasing alternative to traditional braces. Invisible braces provide a solution for the hundreds of patients who want to have treatment but do not want to wear highly visible metal braces.

Popular invisible brace systems include Clearstep and Simpli5, but the most popular option is Invisalign; Invisalign works in a completely different way to traditional fixed braces, using a series of custom-made clear plastic aligners to straighten the teeth.

What are the advantages of Invisalign?

Invisalign has a range of benefits for patients of all ages; the most obvious benefit is that the aligners are clear, which makes them virtually invisible to other people. The aligners are also removable, which means that patients have more flexibility and they are very comfortable; there are no metal parts and there is no need for painful adjustments. Invisalign is also a planned treatment, which means that patients can see computer images of what their expected outcome will be before the braces are even fitted.

Are there any downsides?

The only real downside of Invisalign is the cost; this is one of the most expensive treatments on the market and it will set your back a large amount of money. The exact cost of treatment depends on the individual case and the clinic you attend; there are  some expensive Invisalign clinics around and you can generally expect to pay more if you visit a practice in central London or you see an orthodontist with a great deal of experience and expertise. Some people may also see the fact that the aligners are removable as a disadvantage, as the success of the treatment is dependent on the patient wearing the aligners for a set period of time each day.

Invisible braces a great idea for people who want a straight, attractive smile without the hassle of having to worry about how they will look when they have their braces fitted. Invisible braces are particularly popular among young people and adults because they have no bearing on image and they produce amazing results without anyone else even being aware of the treatment.

Peer pressure

Teenagers are constantly surrounded by their friends, whether they are actually with them or talking to them on the phone or via the Internet. Mobile phones and social networking sites allow young people to be in constant contact, but it also means that teenagers have access to 24 hour news, blogs about fashion and style and celebrity news and they are more aware of trends, fashion and modern culture than ever before.

One of the most worrying problems is that teenagers, especially young girls, are growing up too quickly and not enjoying their childhood as such. Girls are more likely to hang around with boys and want to go shopping than playing games and dressing up like young girls used to and there is a lot of emphasis on the way they look.

Another alarming problem is that teenagers feel under pressure to look a certain way and if they don’t look like that, they suffer from low self-esteem or they are subject to bullying. There is pressure to wear certain brands, have a certain hair style and be a certain weight, which is a particularly worrying issue with many girls as young as 12 years old admitting to trying to diet or lose weight to look like their friends or their favourite celebrities.

What are the implications?

Research shows that teenage girls are increasingly worried about their looks; eating disorders are affecting girls at an increasingly early age and girls are taking drastic steps to look a certain way, even considering cosmetic surgery as well. Images in the media can be very misleading; many photographs are airbrushed to make models, singers or reality TV stars look thinner and this creates unrealistic goals for girls who are probably already struggling with their body image as a result of changes brought about by puberty.

The implications can be devastating; there are stories of girls who have committed suicide at a young age as a result of bullying or feeling completely isolated and eating disorders have become increasingly common among young girls.

In England alone, a study in 2010 revealed that 62.8% of adults (this includes people over the age of 16 years old) and 30.3% of children were overweight or obese, with 1 in 5 people classed as obese.

Why is obesity becoming more common?

There are various reasons why obesity is becoming more common but the most significant factors are diet and lifestyle choices. Weight gain boils down to a simple equation; if you take in more calories than you use, you will put on weight and the fact is that a large proportion of people are exceeding their recommended daily intake of calories per day on a regular basis and this is contributing to weight gain. Figures show that people are eating more sugar, processed food, fat and salt than ever before and this is bad news for public health experts.

Another reason behind increasing obesity rates is a lack of exercise; many people now live more sedentary lives, especially as most jobs are office-based. People also spend more time watching television, playing computer games and using the Internet, which are all sedentary activities.

What can be done?

Governments across the Western World have invested huge amounts of money in educational campaigns trying to reduce rates of obesity but there has to be a commitment from individuals. If somebody wants to lose weight, they have to work for it and change their lifestyle, as nobody else can lose weight for them. Unfortunately, too many people think that all the health problems and issues related to obesity will not affect them and some people are honest enough to admit that they cannot be bothered to worry about what they eat and start exercising.

For people who do want to make a change, there are loads of options; slimming clubs are really popular because they enable you to meet new friends and work together to achieve your goals. Exercise classes are also becoming more popular and they are a great way to get out and meet people, lose weight, increase your fitness and develop new skills. For those who don’t like exercising around other people, home gym equipment and exercise DVDs can be beneficial. Doctors can provide advice about nutrition and exercise and help is also available from the Department of Health and local public health organisations.

What are the implications?

The implications of growing rates of obesity are massive; obesity is linked to an increased risk of a host of health conditions, including heart disease, strokes, organ failure, cancer, diabetes and infertility and the human and financial cost of this growing problem is enormous.