349. The mouth should not be treated when only gives problems

The Medical and Dental (Caldas da Rainha), located at Rua Heróis da Grande Guerra, number one hundred and three, second floor, aims to provide its patients the highest standards of clinical and scientific rigor. A native of Lisbon, the dentist Gonçalo Seguro Dias acquired the Medicine and Dentistry in 2003 and now divides his work between Caldas da Rainha and Lisbon. It is also an assistant of surgery and oral medicine at the School of Dental Medicine, University of Lisbon.

He graduated from the Faculty of Dental Medicine of Lisbon and attended Columbia University, an institution of higher education located in New York City. Their main concern is that their patients have good oral health.

According to the dentist, the mentality of the Portuguese in relation to oral health is changing. A few years ago most people used the dentist only when they had toothache. Today people are increasingly looking for fixed solutions, have more care than they did a few years ago, he said, adding that it is essential to the maintenance of oral hygiene. Therefore, the doctor advises that patients resort to dentists from a young age to allow for preventive action.

JORNAL DAS CALDAS - Nowadays we hear a lot of dental implants. What are they?

GONÇALO SEGURO DIAS - The dental implant is an artificial means for replacing a lost or more roots, being constituted of titanium, which is a material that is not rejected. We are talking about a technique that has 97-99% success.

JORNAL DAS CALDAS - Who can put them?

GONÇALO SEGURO DIAS - Anyone can make implants, provided that your dentist does not find any contraindications.

JORNAL DAS CALDAS - And it is a very complex procedure?

GONÇALO SEGURO DIAS - No, this is a technique that has evolved in recent years and has simplified the whole procedure. Initially, under local anesthesia (similar to one used to treat tooth decay), your dentist places the number of implants planned and appropriate to his case (depending on the number of missing teeth). After 3-5 months, is made final fixed prosthesis that replaces missing teeth, and that will be supported by the implants placed above.

JORNAL DAS CALDAS - And any dentist can do the procedure?

GONÇALO SEGURO DIAS - This is a surgical procedure and as such should be performed by a specialist. Of course, people should inform themselves about the process and obtain all possible information. Everything must be explained to the patients.

JORNAL DAS CALDAS - Is it really possible for a person coming out soon with teeth fixed?

GONÇALO SEGURO DIAS - Yes, in most cases we can so that patients can leave the clinic with teeth fixed provisional.

JORNAL DAS CALDAS - There are a large number of people seeking these treatments?

GONÇALO SEGURO DIAS - I can tell you that in 2008 we did 400 implants, patients who have Portuguese, English, Irish, Swiss, etc.. That is, to a large number of people is the only solution.

JORNAL DAS CALDAS - Recently participated in the "Doctor, I need help," TVI. Possible transformations are really so great?

GONÇALO SEGURO DIAS - Nowadays, everything is possible. We managed to give teeth to patients with bone, without bone, it's all a matter of technique. What patients need to understand is that it is a process that takes several steps.

JORNAL DAS CALDAS - In your opinion, what are the main merits of the program?

GONÇALO SEGURO DIAS - I think he was a very important role in informing patients about many aspects of dentistry, somewhat demystified a series of concepts.

JORNAL DAS CALDAS - And how is the oral health of the Portuguese?

GONÇALO SEGURO DIAS - Bad for the average of developed countries. Eventually we had patients between thirty and forty years old with no teeth who can not chew ... this is quality of life? My big battle is to try the Portuguese begin to think that the mouth is an essential commodity and not a necessary evil that must be treated only when it gives problems.

JORNAL DAS CALDAS - How does the dentistry in Portugal?

GONÇALO SEGURO DIAS - We have in Portugal of the finest dentists worldwide. We have professionals who are required to take courses abroad which are engaged in exciting projects at the colleges. In this respect we improved a lot over the last decades. Now what is possible is not the same dentist know everything about every area. If we want to work with quality, we have to work as a team by areas of expertise. This is the future. It's the only way to guarantee our patients that are having the best treatment. So today we have a great team and my motto is quality.

Marlene Sousa
Jornal das Caldas