The dentist calls it another epidemic: some come to hospitals without 5 teeth

According to the interlocutor, at this time a large wave of these injuries is being felt. This can be seen especially well in the Žalgiris clinic, which has a university training base, where dentists are trained and people with head injuries are admitted.

“In the words of my friends’ surgeons, these injuries are already common,” said V. Almonaitis.

After all, scooters have been riding the streets for years, why are there only now problems with extremely frequent injuries?

According to the doctor, this was influenced by the quarantine. According to the interlocutor, the scooter rental service appeared in Lithuania in 2019. But at the end of the same year, there was an outbreak of fighting in China, the quarantine began, so we all sat at home and there was no need for scooters. Now, with the end of the quarantine, when people start to move and do not want to travel by public transport, this service is becoming even more popular.

“Injuries with scooters are relatively new, so it is difficult to tell the Lithuanian statistics. In America, the use of scooters in big cities started in 2017, in Europe, Germany in 2019. Injuries to shoulders, arms, elbows and wrists are more common when riding a bike. And when riding a scooter, a third of injuries consist of the face and then the upper body. Driving in an upright position, therefore, when faced with an obstacle, a person turns his head forward ”, said V. Almonaitis.

On social media, the dentist shared that a patient arrived at the hospital without a tooth after a trauma with a scooter. Can such consequences be remedied?

“It is possible to restore everything these days, just ask how much time and money it will take. Implants may need to be used and often the bones near the front teeth are damaged during trauma. Then the bone also needs to be rebuilt, Such a process can take years, during which time the person must wear a cosmetic implant.

Implants are an expensive technology. Restoring 1 tooth with an implant and a porcelain crown in the anterior area usually costs about 1,500 euros ”, said the interviewee.

According to the doctor, research shows that these injuries usually occur after work and at night and during the dark hours of the day. This may be another reason why we are now facing a spike in injuries: the dark time of year has arrived in Lithuania, the days have shortened, and visibility has deteriorated.

In addition, V. Almonaitis warns that when riding a bicycle you can see more than when riding a scooter.

“It is now that the rainy season has started, the road surface is slippery and there may be various obstacles, such as tree limbs that have been blown over by the wind. The non-use of helmets contributes. They are used only 5 percent. people, although the main injuries are in the head area. A helmet would help protect at least a third of injuries, “said V. Almonaitis.

According to the doctor, at least half of the traumatized people are intoxicated by alcohol. Also often the injured people are the ones who rode a scooter for the first time.