The Medical Services Department of the Abu Dhabi Police carried out 291 dental implants for its personnel in 2012. Meanwhile, an Orthodontic Unit has been established to treat dysgnathia for both adults and children.
Major Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al Raisi, Orthodontist, Manager of Dental Clinics Branch at the Medical Services of Abu Dhabi Police, said: “Dental clinics have the best, most advanced equipment that copes with global health standards, including the digital panoramic X-ray machine, laser machine and the 3D CT-Scan, which was recently added. The 3-D CT-Scan significantly helps to diagnose oral and maxillofacial diseases more accurately and achieve better quality and more accuracy in dental implants. Doctors in the division are able to perform three to four dental implants everyday. The Dental Clinics Branch includes the Central Clinic at the specialist clinics compound where patients are served via seven clinics. Other dental clinics are located in the Police College, Al Mafraq Juvenile Care Center, Tarif Juvenile Care Center, Punitive and correctional Establishments, in addition to four dental clinics in the Al Ain Clinics Division.
“The Abu Dhabi Police GHQ is committed to increasing the capabilities of its doctors by sending them to different specialist medical conferences and training courses, both local and international, in order to deliver the best therapeutic services to police personnel and their families,” he said.
“Tooth implantation, or dental implants, is one the greatest achievements of modern dentistry. It replaces teeth that are lost either as a result of disease or accident. Dental implants bring back oral functionality and a nice smile,” he added.
Major Al Raisi said: “Tooth implantation is carried out through an operation that implants artificial roots usually made of titanium. The root is implanted in the jaw, in the place of the missing tooth. Months after the implant, the metal root is diffused with the jaw and is accepted by the human body. Then, the crown is installed on the top of the implant to become like the natural tooth. The new tooth is able to carry out all functions and requirements from chewing to serving the cosmetic purpose of looking perfectly natural.”
He added: “Success of dental implants is related to oral care. Patients must clean their teeth via proper, continuous tooth brushing and regular use of dental floss. Other elements of success are the capabilities and experience of the dentist supervising the operation. The general health condition of the patient is another important element of success.”
The Orthodontic Unit was established to treat dysgnathia and corrects jaw bones if one jaw is longer or shorter than the other, or if both are suffering either growth deficiency or over-growth. The unit also treats some bad habits such as thumb sucking, bad swallowing habits such as swallowing with the tongue outside of the mouth. The unit focuses on therapeutic orthodontics more than cosmetic orthodontics. It also collaborates with otolaryngologists to treat some snoring cases in children.
“According to the appointment system we currently use, patients will undergo examination at the clinic on the first visit, receive proper treatment, and will be followed up based on later appointments set by the dentist,” he said.
Patients are advised to visit the clinic regularly; once every six m