Latest Dental News in New Zealand & Australia

Peter Minkoff

The dental industry is constantly changing and new trends are always being explored all around the world. Being in a position to try innovative methods and techniques puts patients at ease, but also allows them to have better dental care. For those in New Zealand and Australia, things are constantly looking up due to the number of experts willing to push the boundaries and give them new options for better care. Here are some of the latest dental news from this region.

Understanding the numbers

In order to have a better understanding of dental health in New Zealand and Australia, knowing the numbers is crucial. That’s why the news of a comprehensive National Study of Adult Oral Health 2017-2018 was welcomed with a great dose of joy. Started by a representative institution for dental care – the University of Adelaide’s Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health – the study will show the state of the nation’s dental health first time since 2006.

With the cost of $5.8 million, the study won’t be something easily discarded in the future, while its goals are supposed to pave the way towards better dental health for the entire nation. Once it fulfills its initial purpose – obtaining “information about the frequency of dental problems in the community, and [receiving] the types and sources of dental care” – the study is basically going to be the first step towards better dental care of all Aussies.

Helping MS patients

One of the problems of modern oral medicine is treating patients with serious conditions and challenging diseases. As one of these conditions, multiple sclerosis prevents a huge number of people from leading a carefree life and receiving dental care. They have a hard time reaching dentists, communicating with them, explaining their problems, enduring procedures and, in some cases, affording them. Therefore, a nation-wide solution needed to be found.

As we speak, the Australian Multiple Sclerosis Longitudinal Study is being conducted with the purpose of giving everyone a new understanding of the issues MS patients face on a daily level. Naturally, a number of institutions, including the University of Queensland’s School of Dentistry, is included in this study and the first results show the importance of such a study. Accentuating individual approach to every single MS patient, the team of researchers behind the study shows how this issue needs to be treated if we want better results.

Hide the imperfections

No matter how old they are, people of New Zealand and Australia always strive for a better smile. That’s why they brush their teeth often, visit their dentists frequently and schedule appointments with oral and maxillofacial surgeons. However, there are other ways to reach the goal and not every method needs to be drastic.

Porcelain veneers are increasing in popularity – simple white shells that cover your teeth and hide all the imperfections. These sound unusual at first, but are more effective than you may think. Dentists bond these shells with your teeth and they act just like real teeth in every imaginable way. Therefore, if you’re having teeth-related problems, get in touch with experts for porcelain veneers in Sydney and they’ll provide you with a lasting and reliable solution.

In other news

Of course, these aren’t all dental news from the Australia/New Zealand region. Some of the other innovations include free dental care for citizens who can’t afford it on their own, banning sugary drinks from schools and reaching new solutions using virtual reality. With these changes and improvements, it’s safe to say that their dental health is on a sure road towards a much brighter future.