lifestyle
The Ultimate Warrior Dead At 54
THE Ultimate Warrior – a wrestling legend who was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this weekend before making an appearance at Wrestlemania 30 on Sunday – died last April 8, of an undisclosed cause.
He was 54 years old.Few details are available at this time, but WWE confirmed The Ultimate Warrior’s passing in a statement, saying of the man whose real name was James Hellwig:
“WWE is shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the passing of one of the most iconic WWE Superstars ever, The Ultimate Warrior.”
The statement continues:
“Warrior began his WWE career in 1987 and quickly went on to become one of the biggest stars in WWE history. Warrior became WWE Champion at WrestleMania VI, defeating Hulk Hogan in an epic encounter. We are grateful that just days ago, Warrior had the opportunity to take his rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame and was also able to appear at WrestleMania 30 and Monday Night Raw to address his legions of fans.
“WWE sends its sincere condolences to Warrior’s family, friends and fans. Warrior was 54 and is survived by his wife Dana and his two daughters.”
The Ultimate Warrior had not wrestled professionally for many years, instead making headlines for a few bizarre video rants.
But he actually appeared this week on Monday Night Raw and his death has left many within the WWE universe in shock.
“RIP WARRIOR. Only love,” tweeted Hulk Hogan, while Triple H added:
“Saddened to announce the passing of the Ultimate Warrior. Icon and friend. My sympathy to his wife Dana and his daughters.”
(Hilton Hater/ Hollywood Gossip)
Jokowi, Jojo And Erap (Happy Birthday!)
Much sooner than most of us know or are aware of, our neighbour, Indonesia (with a population of 250 million) will hold its National Elections for President and Vice President. These were preceded by Legislative (including the Lower House of Parliament) Elections last Wednesday, April 9, 2014. 186 million voters were eligible to vote for 230,000 candidates for 20,000 seats in National (560) and Regional or Local Legislatures (2,137 seats in 33 Provincial Assemblies {DPRD}: 17,560 seats in 497 District Assemblies.).
The most important of these three levels was the election for the 560 seats in the Lower House of the National Parliament (DPR). The results have to be tallied and completed by law within 30 days. Under Clause 9, Law 42 of 2008, only parties that won at least 20 % of the DPR seats or 25 % of the popular vote in the Legislative elections can nominate a candidate for President and VP. If a party failed to achieve these criteria, then it has to combine with another party or a combination of other parties if it wants to field a candidate (s). The nominations have to be completed within seven days of the above results.
The Presidential and Vice Presidential Elections will be held on July 9. The campaign will be in May and June. Then another two months of campaigning in June and July for the Run-off elections which will be held in September. The new President will take office on October 20. 2014, when the incumbent President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, steps down. The latter was elected in 2004 and 2009 in the first and second direct elections for President. He is barred from seeking a third term.
The main opposition party, the Indonesian Democratic Party – Struggle (Megawati Sukarnoputri), will nominate the Governor of Jakarta (since Oct 15, 2012; defeated the incumbent in the September 20, 2012 Run-off elections.), Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, age 52, born June 21, 1961, in Surakarta (Solo), Central Java. He was the Mayor there from July 28, 2005 to Oct 1, 2012.
In most of the Opinion Polls, Jokowi is now leading the race. His Party got the highest number of MP’s as well as popular votes. Both Suharto’s Golkar, the Gerindra Party and the Incumbent’s Democratic Party are trailing behind both in the polls as well as in the elections. Meanwhile five Islamic parties increase their combined total dramatically from 26 % in 2009 to the present 32 %.
Jokowi was educated in public schools in Surakarta at the Primary (Grade School) and Junior and Senior Secondary (High Schools) Levels. He took up Engineering at the Gadjah Mada University and graduated in 1985. He was a property and furniture businessman before he entered politics.
In both positions, as Mayor of Surakarta and as Governor of Jakarta, he adopted an interactive approach and relationship with his constituents. At the same time he adopted the development framework of European cities. He gained the trust of his constituents and was recognized for his achievements both at the National and International levels.
Jokowi reminds me of both President/Mayor Joseph “Erap” Marcelo Ejercito Estrada of Manila and the Philippines and Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Cabauatan Binay, Mayor of Makati from 1986 to 1988 and 2001 to 2010. Jokowi became a Mayor at the age of 44 and a Governor at the age of 51.
Erap was born on April 19, 1937 in Tondo, Manila. He was elected Mayor of San Juan in 1967 (However, he was cheated and lost the elections but won an electoral protest and assumed office in 1969.) at 30, Senator in 1987 at 51, Vice President in 1992 at 55, President in 1998 at 61 and again Mayor of Manila in 2013 at 76.
Jojo was born on November 11, 1942 in Paco, Manila. He was appointed OIC Mayor of Makati in 1986 at 43. He was elected Mayor in 1988, 1992, 1995, 2001, 2004 and 2007. He was elected VP in 2010 at 67. In May 2016, he will be 73.
The three of them, Jokowi, Erap and Jojo share the same populist style. The big difference is that unlike Erap, neither Jokowi nor Jojo were actors or showbiz personalities before they became Mayors. The other difference is that Erap had to go through serving five years as a Senator before he ran for President and then slid down to Vice President in 1992.
The third difference is that undoubtedly, Jokowi as opposed to all the other strong candidates or candidates of the big parties, represents the new politics in Indonesia. On the other hand, will both Jojo and Erap be identified with the old politics in the Philippines? Or can they reinvent themselves into something new but proven. The difference between the Philippines and Indonesia is that the latter had a little taste of the new politics a decade and a half ago. The former has just had a big taste of the failed new politics in the incumbent President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino.
The question is whether the revulsion with Pork, Corruption and Plunder will make the majority of voters gamble with the new and the young again or will they choose to stay with the old but proven leaders. If the former becomes true, then we will have a myriad of possible – Grace Poe, Alan Peter Cayetano, Vilma Santos, Sonny Trillanes and maybe even Bongbong Marcos. If the latter remains true, then we will have Binay and Estrada to choose from. They will have Mar Roxas and Chiz Escudero and others to choose from.
Meanwhile, Erap will be celebrating his 77th Birthday this coming Sabado de Gloria. Meanwhile, he will have to think and ponder whether to retire in 2016 after one term as Mayor or go on and run again for President in 2016. Will he be forced to run and win at the National level to vindicate his family just as Dra. Loi and Jinggoy ran and won as Senators in 2001 and 2004 and served to vindicate Erap then. Happy Birthday!
Tricia Gosingtian: Success Through Fashion Blogging
Unlike other young entrepreneurs with a specific brand or product, Tricia Gosingtian does not have a physical product or merchandise to sell. The twenty-four-year-old calls herself a creative entrepreneur. Her success stems from the fact that she simply pursued her passions: freelance photography, modelling, styling, and blogging, alongside a string of other skills. These hobbies helped her develop her skills as an entrepreneur and a fashion trendsetter. She is now one of country’s highest paid bloggers. A successful high-traffic lifestyle blog can generate up to seven figures from an accumulation of advertising, product placements, reviews and other sources of online revenues.
A graduate of Ateneo de Manila with a degree in Fine Arts and a major in Information Design, Gosingtian built her company from her blog, Tricia Will Go Places. The reknowned fashion blogger modestly claims that the blog, and the business that followed, was born accidentally.
At a young age of 18, despite lack of formal training in photography, Tricia started taking photos related to her interest in fashion, beauty and culture. She knew that there are professional photographers who are more experienced in the field, but that did not stop her. Tricia took and posted fashion photos simply because she is passionate about them.
A newspaper hired her to do street fashion photography. In contrast to fashion designed by famous name designers in studios, street fashion is any style of clothing design that emerged from youth culture. A photographer usually goes exploring places in an urban center where young people congregate, such as parks, rock concert stadiums, music festivals, malls, and university campuses. The photographer then proceeds to spot people in the crowd who stand out based on their sense of fashion, and asks them if they do not mind having their pictures taken.
It was during her stint with the newspaper when Tricia decided to upload her photography work to her blog site. She shares, “Eventually, I wasn’t able to sustain it due to my busy schedule back in college, so I decided to just take my own personal style photos. And the rest just followed.” Tricia admits that she has always been a very active internet user ever since she was in high school. She was not expecting that her hobby will turn into a full-time business venture.
Being a fashionista who loves to collect clothes, Tricia thought of putting her clothes into good use. Her idea was to make a photo documentation of herself wearing the clothes that she loves. Essentially, she became her own photographer and model. Until now, she still posts photos of herself on her blog. Her sense of style and individuality has caught the imagination of young Filipinas all over the country, who look up to her for fashion ideas.
“I never really thought it could grow to something much bigger. I’ve always had a penchant for graphic design so I remember enjoying creating layouts for all my friends’ blogs and for my own blog. Photography came into my life some time back then, when I suddenly grew obsessed with deviantART and sharing my work in this wonderful art community, ” she says.
Tricia works with publications and brands who see her as the icon of youth fashion. It isn’t far from the truth, as the blog regularly features photos of Tricia in her latest fashion getups. She believes that she has a lot of creativity to share throughout Asia and the rest of the world. She calls her style as ‘sophisti-cute’, her own mix of her two influences, Japanese fashion and Western high street fashion.
Tricia finds unique sources for inspiration, beyond the realm of traditional fashion design. “In terms of fashion and photography, I was mostly influenced by Japanese magazines. I wanted to recreate that kind of soft lighting they always had in their photos, so I decided to pick up my own camera and try to produce the same results. Fashion-wise, I don’t strictly follow Western trends, but I do follow Japanese fashion religiously. Coincidentally, Japanese fashion also takes its roots from Western trends,” she observes.
Asked what important traits one must have to be successful, she answers, “Positivity breeds positivity. Nothing good can ever come out of surrounding yourself with negative people who say negative things all the time. Focusing on the positive things can help you look at life in a different, more meaningful way.” As to her definition of success, Tricia replies, “Success is relative! My definition of success doesn’t really have much to do with fame or money, but a lot with being able to carry out my dreams with the presence and support of my loved ones.”
Ford Mustang Goes Hi-Tech
Ford Motor Co. has packed the redesigned Mustang with new technologies to boost its global appeal.
The 2015 model is equipped with a standard backup camera and push-button ignition; cross-traffic alert, which warns drivers of oncoming traffic when backing out of parallel and perpendicular parking spaces; forward collision warning; and adaptive cruise control.
Drivers also will be able to individually monitor the pressure of each tire on the cluster for the first time, and toggle through four selectable driving modes that fit them best.
To top it off, the Mustang will be the first Ford vehicle available with the next generation of the AppLink smart phone connectivity system.
The 2015 Mustang goes on sale in the fall.
But even with a plethora of new gadgets to give it a global shine, Ford made sure the Mustang retained its essence, Scott Lindstrom, Ford’s driver assist technologies manager, said during a Mustang tech briefing today.
“Mustang has always been a great car, always had a big V-8, always been fun to drive, but as we looked to make it a truly global sports car we recognized we really had to add some technology,” Lindstrom said. “Right now, it’s definitely the most technologically advanced Mustang we ever made.”
Steve Ling, Ford car marketing manager, said the technology on the new Mustang is all driver-focused.
The Track Apps feature, a set of applications in the instrument cluster that collects performance data, has been given a global touch. The system, available since 2013, now has a metric system translator. Track Apps comes standard in the Mustang EcoBoost and GT.
Jon Ohland, a Ford electrical systems engineer, said Track Apps “provides an indication to the driver of how the vehicle is performing, and it also can give an indication of when the vehicle performance is degrading or improving.” (Vince Bond Jr./ Automotive News)
In The Future, People Will Bring Pot To Dinner Parties Instead Of Wine
If the support for marijuana legalization continues to rise, in the near future you might bring a bag of your favorite cannabis to a dinner party, rather than a bottle of wine.
That’s according to a new study from online legal resource Avvo, which found that 70 percent of the more than 2,000 consumers surveyed in Colorado and Washington — where marijuana has been legalized for recreational use — believe that marijuana consumption will become such a routine part of their lives that they’ll bring it along to something as regular as a dinner party.
The survey — which only included people who used Avvo.com in the past year — found that a strong majority of residents in Colorado and Washington are in support of legal weed businesses opening up in their neighborhoods. Sixty-seven percent of those surveyed in Colorado and 71 percent of those in Washington said they were in favor, with 43 percent planning on making a marijuana purchase in the future.
There was some concern from residents in both states that legalization could increase access to marijuana for kids, with 43 percent saying they were “very worried” about this notion. Forty-two percent of those surveyed where “very concerned” about the possibility of more people driving under the influence of marijuana.
The poll echoes similar positive sentiments from a recent survey from Public Policy Polling, which showed that Colorado voters are even happier about marijuana legalization after the first few months of sales.
Marijuana enthusiasts bought a lot of pot in the first month that recreational weed was legal in Colorado — several dozen recreational marijuana dispensaries collectively generated more than $14 million in January.
Just this month, Washington state regulators issued the first legal marijuana business license in the state. The first Washington shops selling retail weed are expected to open later this year.
“As the growing number of states with marijuana-legalization ballot initiatives indicates, pot is gaining social acceptance across a wide swath of demographics, even with shared concerns about kids having great access to the drug,” Leigh McMillan, vice president of marketing and research at Avvo, said in a statement. “Somewhat akin to the social movement after the end of prohibition, legalized marijuana will likely follow a similar trajectory as cannabis becomes socially accepted and new businesses emerge.”
Currently, 20 states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana in some form, with about a dozen other states expected to join their ranks in the coming years. (Matt Ferner/Huffpost)
How to Preserve Lost Teeth
THERE is still hope when one or more teeth are suddenly lost in accidents. Chances are, the natural tooth or teeth may be reattached, provided that dental attention is sought within 30 minutes. Before doing that, however, place the tooth or teeth in a glass or container of cold milk, according to Dr. Joseph Orrico, president of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID).
Time is of the essence on replacing teeth this way. “There’s a short window of opportunity in which the remaining living tissue on the root surface can be kept alive,” Dr. Orrico says, adding that milk has a neutral acidity (ph) balance and is fortified with vitamins that make it an excellent preservative.
When tooth or teeth preservation is unsuccessful, a root canal procedure saves the tooth structure and restores it with a crown. That is, when teeth are broken above the gum line. If a tooth is fractured below the gum line, the fragment is extracted and a dental implant, a bridge or a removable dental prosthesis is put in place. Age is a factor in determining which treatment to use because bone loss in the jaw of young people over the years could be significant for young patients with bridges or removable and unsecured prostheses.
In comparison, implants function like natural teeth and preserve the jawbone.
Dental implants are artificial tooth roots made of titanium screws that are inserted into the jawbone and affixed with a prosthetic tooth or crown. It replaces one or more teeth depending on the bone’s ability to support the implants.
In a process called osseointegration, titanium implants fuse naturally with bone over time. Implants function the same way as natural teeth, preventing the jaw structure against atrophy caused by bone loss. While bridgework and dentures may replace missing teeth, they do not prevent bone loss. This is because permanent implants enable a person to maintain his or her chewing functions properly. The action exerts natural forces on the jawbone just like natural teeth do.
Based in Chicago, the AAID is the first organization in the United States dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of implant dentistry by supporting research and education to advance comprehensive implant knowledge. AAID offers a rigorous implant dentistry credentialing program which requires at least 300 hours of post-doctoral instruction in implant dentistry, passing a comprehensive exam and presenting to a group of examiners successful cases of different types of implants.
It is one of the most comprehensive credentialing programs in dentistry.
***
Dr. Joseph D. Lim is the Dean of the College of Dentistry, National University, President/CEO of Dr. Smile Dental Care & Laser Center and honorary fellow of the Asian Oral Implant Academy and the Japan College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail jdlim2008@gmail.com or text 0917-8591515
How Fit Are You?
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TESTING your overall fitness level is easy and can be done without using any special equipment or machine. The following are some assessments you could do to know where you are now and how far you could go.
Check your weight
Keeping your food intake and energy output in balance is the key to controlling weight. This means that weight loss is affected not just by what you eat but by the physical activity you are engaged in.
There is a standard height and weight chart for men and women to determine your healthy weight range.
Get your target heart rate
By calculating your target heart rate, you would know how much effort you need to exert for your workout. Target Heart Rate (THR) is the heart rate you should maintain when you exercise. It is more accurate to get it during an aerobic activity.
Before calculating it, you need to determine your Resting Heart Rate (RHR). This can be taken manually at your wrist or neck.
When training, aim to keep your heart rate above 142 but below 170.75. If you train above your optimum zone, your body won’t be able to keep up with the demand for oxygen and you will be exhausted quickly. A workout that does not raise the heart rate to a certain level will not contribute significantly to a cardiovascular fitness.
Know your BMI
Body mass index (BMI) is a height-weight system of measurement that is applicable to all gender. It is a number that reflects the percentage of body fat in proportion to lean body mass. It determines if you are underweight or overweight.
Test your aerobic fitness
Aerobic fitness refers to endurance or the ability to sustain walking, running, swimming, or climbing uphill for prolonged periods. It is dependent on age and sex, and can be improved by training. It is highest at ages 18 to 19 years in males, and 15 to 20 years in females. It also decreases with age.
Determine your muscular fitness
Push-ups can help measure muscular strength. Do as many push-ups as you can until you need to take a rest. Count each time you return to the starting position as one push up.
Record the number of push-ups. The number is an indicator of your upper body and shoulder endurance and muscular strength. A low number would mean poor muscular strength and may lead to shoulder pain.
A good muscular fitness level allows an individual to perform tasks with less physiological stress and make everyday activities easier to do.
Check your flexibility
Flexibility is the ability to move a joint through its full range of motion. It is affected by the condition of the joint and the muscles and connective tissues surrounding the joint. It is essential not only for sports engagement but also for daily activities. Persons who are not flexible are prone to injuries.
To check your flexibility, put a yardstick on the floor, and secure it by putting a tape at the fifteen inch mark. Place the soles of your feet even with the mark. Using you arms, reach towards your toes as far as you can, without bending your knees. The test gives you the idea of how flexible you are. –Jinoe Gavan for Unilab Active Health
Oral Implants for Healthy Smiles
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim
MRS. Manolita S. Silvestre, a businesswoman from Alabang, has a lot to smile about nowadays. Her speech has improved, she looks a lot better than before, and her confidence is up by a hundred percent, “I’m having a good time. I’m not ashamed to face people anymore and my self-esteem is high,” she said. Her secret? Dental implants—artificial teeth that are surgically implanted in the jawbone with the use of tiny screws. This device has helped over two million toothless people worldwide.
The availability of dental implants in the country has improved the quality of life of many Filipinos since they provide a better and more aesthetically pleasing alternative to dentures. Silvestre is one of the many Filipinos who has benefited from dental implants. Her success story has inspired other people to try out this new technology. Prior to her discovery of dental implants, Silvestre had been wearing dentures for years when she decided one day that they were not for her. “I’ve seen people who have lost their teeth and developed facial deformities because of ill-fitting dentures. I couldn’t accept that. I couldn’t imagine myself with an elongated face so I believed dental implants were the answer to my problem, I had read about them in some American journals when a friend of mine said they were being done here,” she recalled.
Although the technology is new, dental implants were used thousands of years ago by the ancient Egyptians. The technique was refined in the 1950s by Swedish orthopedist Dr. Per-Ingvar Branemark. While working in his lab, Branemark observed that titanium could integrate with living bone tissue – a process called Osseo integration. His discovery led to the development of modern dental implants which are widely used today.
Dental implants can be used to replace a single tooth or an entire set of teeth. In the surgical phase, the jawbone is drilled to accommodate the implant. After a few months or sufficient time for the bone cells to grow around the implant and hold it in place, a small metal post or abutment is attached to the implant to serve as an anchor for new teeth. The final stage involves creating new teeth or a prosthesis which is attached to the abutment.
What happened during the operation and how did it change Silvestre’s life? Find out in the second part of this series on Friday. Don’t miss it!
***
Dr. Joseph D. Lim is the Dean of the College of Dentistry, National University, President/CEO of Dr. Smile Dental Care & Laser Center and honorary fellow of the Asian Oral Implant Academy and the Japan College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail jdlim2008@gmail.com or text 0917-8591515.
Too Long Without
By Isabella San Gabriel
Dear Isabella,
I HAVEN’T had sex for so long and it’s driving me insane!
I’ll tell you why when it is so easy these days to pick up someone or even ‘purchase’ someone for an hour or two of vigorous sex.
I am 33 and I married my husband 10 years ago. This year he just turned 70.
I know for a fact that his age contributes a lot to his sexual performance or the lack of it for the past few months. Occasionally, inspired by my not so subtle insistence, he takes Viagra. When I say occasionally this means two or thrice a year. Of course I want him to take the drug more often but I worry that it could harm his overall health. I just want to have sex with the guy and not drive him to his grave early!
Aside from this, overall my relationship with my husband is amazing. He is the kindest person I know and treats me like the queen I deserve to be.
What should I do? Can you please say something?Sincerely,
Linda
Dear Linda,
First of all, I am not a medical doctor. I don’t even carry any PhD after my name. I suggest that you consult a medical doctor to verify the following:
Impact of Viagra on your husband’s health if taken with other medications. You didn’t mention in your letter whether your husband is indeed taking any additional medications so I can’t even ask my medical doctor friends. Those I have. A lot. I emphasize that the consultation should be done in a doctor’s office and NOT over the Internet.
The amount of time your husband needs to take Viagra before having sex. And also how many mg he needs to take. As you said you only want to have sex with him and not kill him. Viagra overdose can kill.
Second, rumor has it that a woman reaches her sexual peak at around age 35. You’re almost there and probably your hormones are more active than usual. You may also want to check with your Ob-gyne about that. Your hormones I mean and not on whether or not you are nearing your sexual peak age. Knowing this can help you manage your sexual activities.
Third, I have two alternatives for you. One, open marriage. Two, sex toys.
As Open As You Want It
In a study I read recently, the result of which was published by Huffington Post, I believe, about 5% of marriages in the US are classified as open marriages where one or both parties are with other people with the spouse ‘open’ about this.
From your letter, I guess yours is not in this 5%. How about exploring this type of marriage with your husband? Who knows this may even titillate him enough that he doesn’t need to ingest Viagra a time or two.
Personally, I have never explored the idea of an open marriage, but I will do so now with you. I think it is not bad as long as everyone involved knows what they are getting into and open about what they want from this kind of relationship. A marriage is foremost based on trust and that trust extends to knowing that your partner will do everything in his or her power, as long as it is not illegal, to ensure that you are satisfied in all aspects of your relationship.
Toys for Pleasure
Now, if both of you are averse to having an open marriage. I assume that your husband can use all his other extremities well – his hands and by extension his fingers, his tongue. With all those extremities, I bet both of you can enhance both your sexual experience with the aid of some toys.
There are so many out there to choose from for every pleasure imagined and conceived by men and women.
Sincerely,
Bella
Dental Therapists Put on Test
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim
DENTAL therapists are oral health providers almost similar to nurses.
And the first class of dental therapists and advanced dental therapists in Minnesota took their licensure examinations last April 2-3. Although Minnesota is among the top five states in United States with high oral health care coverage, regular dental care reportedly doesn’t cover about 350,000 low-income people while 80 percent of tooth decay is found in 25 percent of children, many of them in poor families. Minnesota’s two-tiered Dental Therapist Legislation of 2009 requires dental therapists to have a bachelor’s degree; they are licensed to practice tooth extraction and fill cavities under the supervision of dentists.
Advanced dental therapists are licensed to practice with an off-site dentist supervisor provided they have a master’s degree and has completed 2,000 clinical hours. While similar schemes are in place in other countries, Minnesota’s – and a similar program in Alaska – is unique in the United States. A dental therapist is essentially a licensed dental auxiliary who specializes in treating children’s teeth and oral hygiene. Local dental regulations determine the duties therapists are able to perform. Typically, therapists under the prescription of a dentist are licensed to examine children’s teeth, administer restricted techniques of local anesthesia, take x-rays, provide sealants, scaling and cleaning in children.
Alaska and Minnesota allow dental therapists to practice basic dental procedures under the supervision of a dentist.
The difference in the two states is that Alaskan dental therapists are taught in Washington State and can only practice on tribal rural areas. An October 2010 evaluation of the Alaska dental therapist program found that they provide safe, effective and competent care.
In the United Kingdom, a dental therapist working from a prescribed treatment plan can treat children and adults, with direct restorations, gum and oral hygiene treatment and extraction of teeth. They can also place pre-formed stainless steel crowns on teeth. They can apply medications and administer local anesthetic. Dental therapists can work independently and without the supervision of a dentist. Training is usually by dual diploma in dental hygiene and dental therapy but a few dental schools offer full degree training in combined hygiene/therapy.
In Canada, dental therapists may practice basic dental surgical procedures only in certain communities and only under the supervision of a dentist. In Australia and New Zealand, therapists mainly work for state governments (public clinics) and school dental programs, treating children’s teeth. But they cannot restore adult teeth in children above grade 10 and cannot restore non-vital teeth.
***
Dr. Joseph D. Lim is the Dean of the College of Dentistry, National University, President/CEO of Dr. Smile Dental Care & Laser Center and honorary fellow of the Asian Oral Implant Academy and the Japan College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail jdlim2008@gmail.com or text 0917-8591515.
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