On-Campus Residency

Are you brushing your teeth in the right way every day?

Will your face become thinner after the wisdom teeth are pulled out?

Are electric toothbrushes better than manual toothbrushes?

How can periodontitis be prevented?

To arrest people’s attention to oral health and advocate the concept of healthy living, the trade union of the Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study of the UCAS invited Wang Weiqian, president of the Hangzhou Stomatological Hospital affiliated to the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences for a lecture on oral knowledge on the afternoon of October 28. The lecture was hosted by Zheng Chonghui, executive vice president of Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study and chairman of its labor union, and attracted more than 100 teachers and students.

At the beginning of the lecture, Wang Weiqian focused on the most common dental diseases such as caries and periodontal disease, and also demonstrated modern therapies including digital treatment, fibrosis treatment and minimally invasive therapy. Periodontal disease is by far the most common but most easily overlooked oral problem, she said. The periodontitis is caused by bacterial plaque from the build-up of food residues. People are particularly prone to such a disease, which may even induce diseases in other systems of the human body. Periodontal disease must be taken seriously, and effectively prevented by brushing, flossing, regular cleaning and oral examinations.

Wang Weiqian also said that dentition defects are also commonly seen oral problems. It not only spoils the look, but also impairs the chewing function and causes tooth displacement. The current treatment measures mainly include repair with ceramic dental crowns (bridges), dental implants, and removable dentures.

Wang Weiqian focused on the problem of wisdom teeth that most concerned teachers and students. She said that inappropriately grown wisdom teeth can cause problems such as dental caries, pericoronitis, crowded dentition, and incisor root resorption. Therefore, when the position and size of the wisdom teeth are abnormal or there are no paired teeth, the wisdom teeth need to be removed without delay. She said with a smile that the size and contour of the face depend on the gum. Therefore, the rumor that the face will become thinner for removal of wisdom teeth is not credible. It is better to maintain a healthy body through exercise and proper rest.

Wang Weiqian emphasized that brushing teeth carefully is the key to protecting them. She offered a few tips for daily oral care and teeth brushing. Effective brushing first lies in which parts should be brushed. That is, the junction of the gum and teeth where plaque tend to occur. Second, we should resort to the Bass Method that prevails across the world. Third, it is about the select of toothbrush: electric ones can apply the force evenly and thus achieve good effects. Fourth, toothpaste, an auxiliary cleaning product, needs to be changed frequently, and there is no need to buy expensive ones. Fifth, it is necessary to use dental floss every day, and the oral irrigator, an auxiliary product instead of a necessity, may be used according to the actual situation.

Teachers and students attending the lecture said that it was very targeted and relevant, and very helpful for enhancing the awareness of self-care, maintaining oral health, and developing good living and working habits.

Text / Tang Yuxuan

Photo / Wen Chenxi