Amy Traore-Shumbusho, an orthodontist and founder/chief executive director, Smile 360 Dental Specialists have advised that Nigerians can improve their dental health and the quality of smiles by simply visiting the orthodontist to help prevent orthodontic problems from negatively impacting smile and oral health.
Traore-Shumbusho who gave this disclosure in a press conference organized by Smile 360 Dental Specialists on Wednesday May 15th to mark the World Orthodontist Day, themed Orthodontist, creating healthy smiles for all ages. She explained that a lot of patients out there do not even know what Orthodontic means.
“We know about dentist, we do not know what or who is Orthodontist. Today, we want to explain and at the same time create awareness who is orthodontist is and what orthodontists do and what are the benefits of orthodontic treatment,” she said.
Orthodontic treatment is a way of straightening or moving teeth, to improve the appearance of the teeth and how they work. It can also help to look after the long-term health of your teeth, gums and jaw joints, by spreading the biting pressure over all your teeth.
According to Traore-Shumbusho the World Health Organisation recommends ratio of 1 to 600 doctors but in Nigeria we have about one to about 3,500. Two years ago, Nigeria has about fifty Orthodontists but it has progressively increased to seventy and the good thing is that the number is increasing but the ratio is ridiculous.
“In Nigeria, we have one Orthodontist attending to three million people; the problem is that those Orthodontists are not busy enough. In as much as we are 70 they are still not busy and that is why we are creating this awareness so that people can know the benefits and consequences of not fixing them,” she said.
Traore-Shumbusho further explained that an orthodontist is different from dentist noting that a dentist looks at your teeth, your gums and the health of while an orthodontist looks at the alignment of your teeth, health of your teeth. Of course, people know an Orthodontist as the cosmetic side of dentistry because at the end of the day, we build healthy smiles and we also build beautiful smiles.
“So the impact that the Orthodontist has to do with building more self-esteem and how to carry out that beautiful smiles that can impact their people’s lives both from the health aspect and the cosmetic side.
She therefore urged that Orthodontic treatment is available and affordable with international standard and regardless of age noting that at Smile 360, just as there are other centers as well can ensure that patient does not have to travel abroad to have their Orthodontic treatment done.
“I have that duty to create awareness about the Specialty in Nigeria. We are here to let the public know how to recognize an Orthodontist, making sure that Orthodontic treatment is done by a specialist that is eligible to practice orthodontic in Nigeria,” Traore-Shumbusho added.
Also commenting, Latre Bakoshi a dentist and Clinical Head, Smile 360 Dental Specialists, said what happens is that Orthodontics is not just for a great smile but it is also put in position for your teeth to survive.
“In Nigeria, you do not have to suffer loss of teeth or bad smile. A lot of people don’t smile just because of their teeth alignment because they are in the wrong position so we refer them to an Orthodontist to put those teeth back into the right position”.
“And i think Orthodontic should be the next investment for the future children to take up this profession in Nigeria,” Bakoshi advised
Commenting on the milestone as one of Nigerians foremost orthodontic centre, Apara Akinsanmi, Health and Quality Manager, Smile 360 Dental Specialists said basically, we have been very consistent and always being innovative in our work.
“We have standard that we adhere to and we will continue to build tirelessly to deliver the best,” he said.
ANTHONIA OBOKOH
