Whilst perusing a self-help book of which there are an abundance in this modern era, I discovered that psychologists define the most productive emotion to be gratitude. Alongside productivity, gratitude is shown to increase levels of happiness and health (Di Fabio, Palazzeschi & Bucci, 2017). To put into practice what I had learnt and reap the rewards, I began listing the things I am thankful for. Instinctively food and drink came at the top of my list, but I later discovered the blessing of comprehensible speech as well as the function of chewing. As time passed, I gained an appreciation of the role dental implants have in restoring these functions, and since, my passion has flourished.
The World Health Organisation defines tooth loss as a physical disorder; current research indicates that it leads to a drastic reduction in one’s quality of life. This is due to difficulties whilst performing functions which most of us take for granted, eating, and speaking. Pleasure and enjoyment that is derived from the consumption of a variety of foods is quickly reduced and results in nutritional deficiencies. Participation in events and activities dwindles due to the shame patients feel during social interaction. So, aside from the physical benefits one has from a functioning dentition, there are a plethora of additional benefits which include both mental and social wellbeing (Sargozaie, Moeintaghavi & Shojaie, 2017).
A global epidemiological study conducted in 2010 found that 158 million people worldwide had no teeth remaining, with a similar number having only between 1 and 9 teeth them (Kassebaum et al. 2014). Some of these patients are unaware of the treatment options available to them. I am pleased to be working in a clinic where we can help patients who may have lost confidence due to tooth loss, to patients who simply want to enjoy a meal again.
What are you grateful for?
Di Fabio, A., Palazzeschi, L., & Bucci, O. (2017). Gratitude in Organizations: A Contribution for Healthy Organizational Contexts. Frontiers in psychology, 8, 2025. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02025
Sargozaie, N., Moeintaghavi, A., & Shojaie, H. (2017). Comparing the Quality of Life of Patients Requesting Dental Implants Before and After Implant. The open dentistry journal, 11, 485–491. https://doi.org/10.2174/1874210601711010485
Kassebaum, N. J., Bernabé, E., Dahiya, M., Bhandari, B., Murray, C. J. and Marcenes, W. (2014). Global Burden of Severe Tooth Loss: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Journal of Dental Research 93(1544-0591 (Electronic)7), pp. 20S-28S. doi: 10.1177/0022034514537828.
