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Interpreter
of Maladies
Dr.
Nighat Ara, Psychiatrist
Q.
Can you tell me if there is any such thing as baby blues? Recently I
read somewhere that nothing like this really exists, then why do I find
my pregnancy so depressing?
A:
Baby blue is a synonym for post-partum blue. The term denotes a transient
depressed state of mind that many women experience soon after delivery
of a baby. It usually lasts only few days and is characterised by sadness,
tearfulness and excessive dependency. The rapid change in hormone level,
exhaustion of childbirth and the anxiety around the new role as a parent-
all these are considered as contributory factors of this mental state.
Unless the mother has a previous psychiatric history or family history
of post-partum depression, this is not an alarming situation. Women
sometimes find their pregnancy depressing if they lack adequate support
from family members. In case of unplanned or accidental pregnancy, it
is more stressful and depressing than in general. Besides, if you are
anticipating some negative consequences of this pregnancy (financial
stress, impact on career etc.), that can also lead to a depressed mood.
Some women who have unresolved issues with their mother or couldn't
separate themselves successfully from the maternal influence (e.g. unusual
dependency or clinging) also find pregnancy very difficult to cope with.
However, for vast majority of women pregnancy gives them a sense of
fulfilment, a confirmation of their femininity and a purpose of life.
On the contrary, unhappy childhood memories (e.g.: neglect, emotional
abuse etc), past bad experience with pregnancy, dissatisfaction in the
marital life and husband's negative attitude towards the pregnancy -
all these can distort this normal physiological process. Whatever be
the reason, if your depression is really marked, please contact a mental
health professional. Healthy (both mentally and physically) and cheerful
pregnancy is a prerequisite for a healthy baby.
Dental
wise
DR. Mahfujul Haq Khan BDS, DDS, FSDCE
(USA), PhD (Japan), Post Doc. (Japan) Specialised: Crown and Bridge
work, and Periodontal plastic surgery (USA) Senior Medical Officer,
Department of Dentistry, BIRDEM Hospital
Q.
Dear Dr.Khan
My front teeth are discolored. What is bonding filling? Actually I was
in USA last year and my dentist suggested me to try bonding. What are
the advantages and how long will it last? Is it possible to do it Bangladesh?
Will appreciate your reply . Thanking you
Akhter Ali Uttara
A.
Dear Mr. Ali
Bonding filling (composite filling) is one of the most conservative,
versatile and affordable ways to esthetically restore a multitude of
dental cases. Your dentist uses this natural looking, synthetic material
to:
Restore
cavities in front and back teeth, replace old or unattractive "silver
fillings", Repair root abrasion, close diastemas (spaces between
teeth) Restore chipped or fractured teeth improve or change the color
of permanently stained or discolored teeth
Reshape
crooked or malformed teeth.
Generally, bonding requires five simple steps that are all completed
in one appointment: preparation, layering, hardening, shaping, and polishing.
First, prepares the teeth to be bonded, using a simple etching process.
Then, after applying a specialized cleaning agent, layers the custom-color
blend of composite resin onto the tooth or teeth, hardening each layer
with a special light. When the layering process is finished, we work
with the composite, shaping it to fit the tooth according to your natural
dentition. Then we polish it to prevent staining and early wear. Depending
on the location and size of the bonded area, this placement process
may require 10 to 20 minutes longer than what's needed for a traditional
silver filling.
About
longevity of bonding filling; It depends on size of cavity, quality
of bonding material and skillness of dental surgeon. But it usually
last about 6 - 7 years.
Yes its very much available in Bangladesh.
Q.
Hi Dr. Khan,
Are there alternative treatments for root canal? Should some people
get a second opinion? Is misdiagnosis possible in root canal? I don't
know if I am explaining this right or not, but once the dentist drills
the decay away and sees where the root and tooth meet (which means,
the root is not exposed yet, and the tooth still lies over the root)
(something like that) the procedure would be to not root canal at all...the
dentist would lay some sort of protective coating between the root and
the tooth and then fill the remaining top part of the tooth. DOES THIS
procedure EXIST?
By the way, if some one has bad breath, can it be transmitted by French
kissing?
Almas
North south University
A.
Hello Almas,
If the diagnosis is correct then there is no alternate of Root Canal
Treatment (RCT). Yes, people have every right to have second opinion.
Yes, it is possible to misdiagnose. But careful clinical examination,
correct taking of history, clear X-Ray and support of other diagnostic
instruments can greatly reduce possible misdiagnosis.
You have it mostly correct, but...
When there is deep decay, it is sometimes difficult to determine whether
it has entered the pulp (nerve) of the tooth. The clarity of the image
on the x-ray, or the spatial orientation of the decay relative to the
pulp is sometimes difficult to interpret with precision. In this case,
the removal of the decay (excavation) is both therapeutic and diagnostic.
If an exposure of the nerve cannot be seen, it will generally indicate
that the nerve has escaped injury, and the tooth will not need root
canal treatment. Despite this assumption, the nerve may indeed be injured
and later need root canal treatment, as evidenced by the development
of symptoms at a later date. This is because a microscopic exposure
may escape visual detection by the dentist. In any case, if the symptoms
are sufficiently suggestive of a pulpal infection, it is usually assumed
that root canal treatment is necessary, even if no exposure can be seen.
In
equivocal cases, where there is deep decay that approaches the pulp
but there are no symptoms indicative of infection, and there is no pulp
exposure in evidence, the dentist may place a cement base under the
filling in order to provide a measure of thermal insulation; if it's
really deep, this is sometimes referred to as an "indirect pulp
cap." There are situations where the same situation presents WITH
a small exposure; there are some dentists that will perform a similar
procedure in an effort to head off a root canal. This is called a "direct
pulp cap." The direct cap is a controversial procedure, which is
widely believed to be unsuccessful over time, leading to the eventual
recurrence of infection.
If
some one has bad breath, can it be transmitted by French kissing?
I have been asked this question more than once in my private practice.Certainly,
bad breath may be caused by certain kinds of oral bacteria, and they
appear to be more active in some mouths as compared to others. Some
species of bacteria in the mouth do seem to be transmitted among adults
in close contact. So, theoretically, it could happen. After all, a lot
of diseases are transmitted by kissing and other sexual contact. My
suggestion would be to summon up the courage to tell the kissing partner
about the problem, and to resume kissing as soon as the situation improves.
BY
THE WAY
Toys
for little girls
Think carefully
before you buy toys for your little daughter. In 90 percent of the cases,
for girl's aged between 2 to 10 people buy dolls that emphasise on beauty,
shopping and dating. This could seriously damage her self-esteem. Less
emphasis on beauty or shopping does not mean that the only other options
are educational and therefore less fun. Choices can be made for young
girls that are less focused on the prescribed or assumed behaviour of
women in our society. Toys such as colourful school bus, toy mobile
phone, figures of animals or even a PC can bring joy for a child and
educate at the same time.
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UNDER
A DIFFERENT SKY
Adda
If your heart
doesn't skip a beat when you hear the word "Adda" you just
aren't a true Bengali. An over used, often over or under rated declaration,
a generalized way of categorizing all good or bad conversations with
fantastic or appalling company- the four letter word consumes all
that and everything in between. The slangadda with its double Ds and
As has a circular involvement, a revolving, repetitive suggestion…adda's
double Ds carry an unproductive, unconstructive hollow innuendo.
Adda carries the
connotation of sweet nothing times, the Bengali leisurely afternoons
on the roof tops or an evening with cha and Jhal muri. A sense of
lightness, of wholehearted laughs and clever jokes, of juicy gossips
and inactiveness, sitting pretty with a moving mouth-Bengalis definition
of a perfectly wonderful time, doing Adda.
Being away from
the prime adda land, we strive to create the same environment here
in America. While our leashes are being pulled by the invisible hands
of urgency we often feign to stop and announce to meet up for an adda.
So once in a while with a randomly thrown together bunch of Bengalis
we sit tightly making conversations out of air and trying desperately
to connect, in a higher or lower level, dancing around safe topics
with mouth full of biriyani.
It's not that
I never end up striking a good adda with a bunch of Bengalis but that
occasion is quite rare. With the constant battles of "know it
alls" and "seen it alls" addas here often turn out
to be freak shows, and I the awed audience. Women trying to hog attention
and men trying to play up their superiority complex are what our addas
under this sky is all about. It seems every time I am in the middle
of these so-called addas either I end up as a pupil being taught by
some self-appointed mentor, breaking life down to me and the rest
of the addabajs or I am stuck with a bunch who are way too hung up
on their pasts, describing the lives they left as the best anyone
has experienced. I always feel like the disadvantaged, the one with
an imperfect past, with not many bragging rights because if you decide
to be modest and keep your mouth shut you are automatically assumed
to be of no caliber. I never knew with change of age and location,
addas can become so complicated and dreary.
What's worse is
the relation of alcoholism and adda. I am not a Nazi against alcohol,
if it floats your boat and you take full responsibly of your drunken
self by all means, drink up…
but what I hate is when people use the excuse of an adda to gulp their
daily dosages of liquor. If alcohol helps one relax and add to a good
time it's a different story, but those who add an adda to their alcohol
and pretend like non-alcoholics while drinking like a fish and talking
out of their behinds is what I find treachery towards addas. But then
again I should also mention, sometimes being stuck with a bunch of
drunks is much better than being stuck with complete sober individuals
who are naturally under the influence of something hallucinating,
and you and I both know that covers a healthy chunk of Bengalis.
The truth of the
matter is, perhaps we Bengalis here have forgotten the whole formula
behind good addas. Addas aren't meant for criticizing absent individuals
or groups, it is not to mock or demean each other, it is not to brag
or boast about accomplishments or backgrounds, addas are not so you
can abuse your addictions, adda's focal point should not be what food
we are taking, what clothing we are advertising or what talents we
are staging. Good addas are about freeing your mind, about getting
in touch with yourself, about not worrying about the consequences
of what is being said. It is a series of good conversations, serene
silences and moving forward. It is to exfoliate your mind not to pollute
and dismiss.
Last evening after
sunset and before the moon rose, under a half lit dusky sky, over
a cup of tea and faint music I had the best adda. My mind spoke miles
per minute and my eyes saw imaginings, I found myself again in the
middle of an adda with no other participants but myself.
By
Iffat Nawaz
*You can contact the writer by emailing nituta@hotmail.com
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