Ngwelezana dental unit among the best

THE largest dental unit in northern KZN and currently the only institution in the region which conducts maxillofacial surgery, Ngwelezana Hospital‘s Dental Unit is ranked among the best.

Apart from the Eastern and Western Cape, Ngwelezana is the only provincial hopital handling fibre reinforced bridge cases, which are a minimally invasive and cost-effective way to replace a missing tooth or teeth.

September being oral awareness month, Ngwelezana Hospital Dental Clinical Manager, Dr Simphiwe Ngema, said big plans were in place for the department.

‘Clinics in KwaDlangezwa and eSikhaleni will be opened in due course to offer primary health care, which will help alleviate congestion at the hospital,’ Dr Ngema said.

Dealing with jaw fractures, gunshot wounds, facial bone reconstruction and basic oral hygiene, Dr Ngema said the main challenge is overcoming the lack of dental awareness in the community.

‘Patients in this area are not clued up about dentistry, so the unit now offers educational workshops every morning with all dental patients before consultations in the hope of removing myths.

‘The most common myth is that toothache is caused by a restless worm and patients have poured petrol or methylated spirits over the affected area to get rid of the worm and have consequently come to the unit with burnt cheeks.’

In his 10 years at Ngwelezana Hospital, Dr Ngema said the most bizarre case involved a 28-year-old car accident victim who had to breath and eat through a hole in his throat.

‘The space between his browline and nose was crushed and he was the first maxillofacial surgery patient. After eight weeks in ICU he came back with a pot of biryani to thank me,’ Dr Ngema said.