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Dental Implants: What you need to know!

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root made of titanium which looks like a screw or post and is both strong and light. Have you been considering the dental implant procedure or do you still have some questions in your mind regarding the treatment? We will provide you with a list of answers to the most frequently asked questions about dental implants! Dental implants were invented in Sweden around 40 years ago and are considered the standard care for replacement of missing teeth. An implant is a surgical fixture that is placed onto the bone of the jaw and can fuse with the bone over time. Implants act as a replacement for the root of a missing tooth and it also acts as a replacement for a single tooth or bridge. Having an implant fused to the bone is the closest thing mimicking a natural tooth because it stands on its own without affecting the surrounding teeth, the fusion between the implant and the bone is called osseointegration and is extremely stable. Most implants are made of titanium which allows them to integrate with the bone, without being recognized as a foreign body. Over time, technology and science have progressed to greatly improve the outcomes of dental implant placement. According to The American Academy Of Implant Dentistry, the success rate of dental implants has been reported in scientific literature as 98%. The major goal of replacing a patient's set of teeth is to restore the function and aesthetics of the individual. In general, there are 3 options for teeth replacement: Removable overdenture Fixed dental bridge Single dental implant Each option depends on various factors. Some of which are: Location of missing tooth/teeth Quantity & quality of the jaw bone When the dental implant is to be placed The health of the patient Patient preference Cost There are so many advantages to choosing a dental implant for tooth replacement. One of the main reasons being that missing teeth can be replaced without affecting or altering the adjacent teeth. In addition, dental implants integrate into the bone structure, are very stable and have the look and feel of natural teeth.  

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June 27, 2020
Dr. Ehab Alsamrray
Dentist
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9 Surprising Things That Can Spike Your Blood Sugar

When you first found out you had diabetes, you tested your blood sugar often to understand how food, activity, stress, and illness could affect your blood sugar levels. By now, you've got it figured out for the most part. But then, bam! Something makes your blood sugar zoom up. You try to adjust it with food or activity or insulin, and it dips low. You're on a rollercoaster no one with diabetes wants to ride. Look out for these surprising triggers that can send your blood sugar soaring: Sunburn: The pain causes stress, and stress increases blood sugar levels. Artificial sweeteners: More research needs to be done, but some studies show they can raise blood sugar. Coffee: Even without sweetener. Some people's blood sugar is extra-sensitive to caffeine. Losing sleep: Even just one night of too little sleep can make your body use insulin less efficiently. Skipping breakfast: Going without that morning meal can increase blood sugar after both lunch and dinner. Time of day: Blood sugar can be harder to control the later it gets. Dawn phenomenon: People have a surge in hormones early in the morning whether they have diabetes or not. For people with diabetes, blood sugar can spike. Dehydration: Less water in your body means a higher blood sugar concentration. Nasal spray: Some have chemicals that trigger your liver to make more blood sugar. Watch out for other triggers that can make your blood sugar fall! For example, extreme heat can cause blood vessels to dilate, which makes insulin absorb more quickly and could lead to low blood sugar. If an activity or food or situation is new, be sure to check your blood sugar levels before and after to see how you respond.  

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June 27, 2020
Dr. Reji Jacob
Internist
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10 warning signs of eye defects in children

Imagine living the rest of your life in total darkness. It’s not a very pleasant thought, is it? Unfortunately, that is the fate of thousands of children globally who miss out on an opportunity to see and explore the world, all because of a delayed diagnosis of eye disease. Detecting eye-related problems in a child, is not always an easy task. Doctors are often unable to gauge visual complication in children because of their inability to communicate effectively. Parents may also fail to disclose crucial details pertaining to the child’s blindness. However, the role of early detection of visual problems in the prevention and treatment of pediatric eye disease cannot be overemphasized. Parents play a vital role in the detection of childhood blindness. Since parents are the ones who have most contact with the children, it is imperative that each parent is well-versed in identifying symptoms of eye deviation. Here are 10 signs that your child may have a visual problem: Squinting: If your child squints or has a cross eye and frequently closes one eye, it could be an indication of underlying visual complications. Make sure to take your child to the eye doctor at the earliest opportunity. Holding objects closer than otherwise necessary: If your child has the habit of holding books or toys closer than required, he/she might be facing difficulty in focusing on objects due to a visual defect. Inability to track objects/people: If your child has difficulty following a moving object with his/her eyes or cannot track other people’s movements, it could be another important cue in the diagnosis of visual complications. Rapid and excessive blinking: If your child displays excessive blinking without any external factors, it is better to visit an eye doctor and get the issue inspected. Cloudy layer around the child’s lens: This is usually a case of pediatric cataract and should not be neglected at any cost. While Cataract is usually an eye illness associated with older people, children can contract cataract at the time of birth or shortly after. Pediatric cataract is the second leading cause of childhood blindness and should thus be treated at the earliest. Frequent rubbing of eyes: If your child exhibits frequent rubbing of eyes or constantly has teary eyes, it is better to visit an eye doctor for an examination. Persistent redness or eye irritation: If you notice constant redness around your child’s eye or if he/she seems to show signs of eye irritation, it may be a symptom of eye disease. Warning signs of eye defects in school-age children: Difficulty in reading: This is an important factor in determining problems related to visual development in slightly older children. If your child has trouble while reading and tends to skip small words, or takes an exceptionally long time to put two words together, it could be a sign of visual impairment. Difficulty in writing: If your child has difficulty in memorizing how to write different alphabets or writes backwards and cannot replicate text or images, it should set off alarm bells. While typically, these are symptoms of a learning disability, the root cause of the problem could stem from a vision impairment. Your child may also exhibit poor hand-eye coordination, which is also a tell-tale sign of visual problems. Complains of blurred vision, double vision: If a slightly older child raises complains of blurred or double vision, be sure to take the child to the doctor for an eye examination. Such complaints cannot be taken lightly and need to be attended to. While the above pointers are a general list of signs you need to watch out for to detect visual impairments in children, there are a few other reasons to visit a pediatric eye doctor. If your child suffers an injury to the eye, rush to your nearest eye doctor immediately If your child complains of loss of vision in one eye Pus or crust formation in either eye If your family has a history of eye disease, be sure to schedule regular eye checkups for your child. While examining visual inconsistencies in children can be challenging to most Ophthalmologists, our doctors at Eye Consultants, are proficient in identifying eye problems in children from the very start, thus facilitating early treatment and possible prevention. Our specialists at Eye Consultants are experts in enhancing pediatric visual development. Our services include pediatric eye check-ups, screening for any hidden vision threatening conditions, eye infection therapy, and congenital disease. We also do our best to preserve visual acuity in a child-friendly manner.

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April 29, 2020
Dr. Walid Abdalla
Ophthalmologist
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Can cosmetics be harmful to your eyes?

If one were to carefully analyse social media trends today, there is a clear emphasis on the notion of flawless beauty. From having the perfect body type to having the right facial features, every little detail related to physical appearance has become extremely important. To keep up with the trend, there has been an exponential increase in the number of cosmetic eye products as well. This brings us to another question: Are cosmetic products harmful to the eyes? Team Eye Consultants tells us how cosmetics can affect eye health: If eye cosmetics were to be classified broadly, they could be categorized into 3 types: Eye liner and mascara Artificial and extendable eye lashes Colored Contact lenses Eye Liner and Mascara: Using an eye liner/eye pencil has become such an essential part in the lives of most women that we barely even consider it to be eye makeup anymore. However, leaving your eyeliner/mascara on when you sleep, could severely impact your eye health and lead to an eye infection. Some eyeliners can also block oil glands around the eyes, leading to other kinds of eye complications. Another aspect that most women tend to overlook while using an eyeliner is the product’s expiration date. Eye makeup tends to be moist and is perfect breeding ground for scores of bacteria. When you apply such makeup on your eyes you expose yourself to the possibility of eye irritation and infection. Artificial and extendable eye lashes: Artificial eye lashes seem to be the perfect alternative to naturally thick, long and dense eye lashes. However, the glue in these eyelashes are not particularly eye-friendly and can lead to a nasty eye infection. Prolonged usage of artificial eye lashes can also cause damage to your real eyelash follicles, leading to stunted growth of real eyelashes. Failure to properly preserve and maintain artificial eyelashes can also lead to growth of bacteria, which will invariably be transferred into your eye when you use them. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, many people have reported allergic reactions while using artificial eyelashes. Colored contact lenses: Colored contact lenses that come in various designs and attractive patterns are worn on the eyes, purely for ornamental purposes. Without any medical benefit, these lenses are merely plastic pieces that are often sold without prescriptions. What most people fail to realize is that there is no such thing as ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to contact lenses. Wearing colored contact lenses that are not customized based on your eye measurements can lead to eye complications, including dry eyes. They can also cause vision-threatening problems like corneal abrasions, which is caused due to scratches on the cornea. While the improper use of makeup can be hazardous to your eye, we understand that it may be difficult to avoid eye makeup completely. Here are a few precautions you can take to ensure that your eyes are protected even when you use makeup: Throw out old mascara: Yes, we understand that makeup is not cheap and you may want to hold on to that branded eye liner which you have barely used. However, using eye products that are more than 3 months old, could do significant damage to your eyes and lead to a serious case of eye infection. Make it a point to avoid sharing your makeup: Answer this: Would you be comfortable sharing your toothbrush with someone else? The very thought of it evokes a sense of disgust, doesn’t it? The same rule applies to eye makeup as well. Whether it is an applicator, mascara, cotton swabs or contact lenses, make sure to avoid sharing these products and keep them exclusively personal. Do not sleep with your makeup on: No matter how tired you are, make sure to always wash your eye makeup off, before you hit the bed. Your eyes will thank you for this in the long run. If you suffer from eye diseases like Blepharitis or Dry eyes, you may need to avoid the use of makeup altogether, as these conditions can typically aggravate eye dryness and crusting. Moreover, if you have had eye surgery in the recent past, it is best to ask your Ophthalmologist if you can resume wearing eye makeup. If you suspect that you have an eye infection that is a result of improper use of cosmetics, do not hesitate to walk into our center. Our team of professional doctors are experts at determining the cause of eye ailments and will assist you in every possible way. Additionally, if you are looking for a permanent solution to enhance your eyelashes/eyelids, Eye Consultants is here to help. Our expert surgeons at Eye Consultants are proficient in Blepharoplasty surgery in Dubai and have years of experience in upper and lower lid surgery. 

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March 03, 2020
Dr. Nadire Erdogan Dib
Ophthalmologist
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Time for an eye exam: 7 clear signs to knowing when to schedule one

As adults, we are quite often caught up in a world of constant motion, with no time to rest, pause or even take a short break and focus on ourselves. We are so immersed in our roles as company owners, employees and caregivers, that we forget to notice when our perception of the world and people becomes hazy. Though this may sound philosophical, what we are referring to, is the ignorance most people exhibit, towards the onset of visual complications. Here are 7 signs that indicate that you need to schedule an eye exam at the earliest: If you have a family history of eye disease: If you have a family history of eye diseases like Glaucoma or macular degeneration, you might need to schedule an eye exam more often than others. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes: The influence that diabetes can have on a person’s vision is often understated. The build-up of sugar levels causes fluid to accumulate in the eye which then leads to blurry vision and more severe conditions like macular edema and diabetic retinopathy. Regular eye exams are an absolute necessity when you have been diagnosed with diabetes. If you experience blurred vision: If you notice a loss of sharpness when you perceive objects or if objects appear to be hazy, you may be suffering from a case of blurred vision. Though this may just be a case of fluctuation in your eye power, it may also be an indication of refractive errors like farsightedness or nearsightedness. If you suffer an eye/head injury: If you suffer any external trauma to the head or any area near the eye, you need to schedule an eye exam at the earliest possible opportunity. External eye injuries could lead to blurry vision, or in more severe cases lead to retinal detachment or tears in the eye due to trauma. Symptoms may be noticed in either one eye or both eyes. Rush to an eye doctor as soon as you detect any symptoms after an injury. If you cannot remember when your last eye exam was: Needless to say, not being able to remember when your last eye exam was, is a sure shot sign to schedule your eye exam. The American Optometric Association prescribes an eye exam once in 2 years for adults aged between 18 and 60 and an annual eye exam for people above 60 years of age. If you have not had an eye exam in the recent past or if you have a family history of eye disease, you will need to schedule your eye exam more frequently. If you have trouble driving at night: If you experience immense difficulty while driving in the night, due to a glare from oncoming traffic headlights, it might be the onset of night-blindness or Nyctalopia. In addition to facing trouble while driving, you may also find it hard to focus in dimly-lit environments. These could be symptoms of underlying complications related to eye cataract as well. If you have frequent and unexplainable headaches: In most cases, frequent headaches due to strain on the eye can be avoided with small lifestyle changes. If your headache is a result of staring at a computer screen for too long, simply take a short break every hour to reduce strain on the eye. However certain conditions like Glaucoma, that lead to pressure build up in the eye or cataracts can also lead to headaches. It is advisable to schedule an eye examination, when you feel that your headaches have no credible explanation.

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March 03, 2020
Eye Consultants
Dubai, UAE
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